NOIDA: In a major diversion near Sector 15 metro station, commuters travelling towards New Ashok Nagar in east Delhi will not be allowed to travel straight from the Indian Oil intersection. The commuters will instead have to take a U-turn about 330 metres ahead on Udyog Marg and continue after taking a left to east Delhi.The diversion, implemented on Friday evening, caused trouble for a number of commuters as they had no knowledge about it. The diversion is likely to add to the congestion during peak morning hours if auto-rickshaws heading towards Delhi, which cover one of the lanes on the Udyog Marg, are not restricted.Lal Babu, president of the Noida Auto Rickshaw Chalak Association (NARCA), alleged that these auto-rickshaws, mostly with registration numbers of Delhi, are hand-in-glove with local policemen who allow them to stand along the stretch and pick-up and drop commuters from the spot.“These autos cover the stretch during the morning and evening office hours, when the stretch is chock-a-block. They are allowed to stand at the spot to ferry commuters to Delhi even as there is no dedicated stand for autos here,” he said.Gautam Budh Nagar SP (traffic) Anil Jha, however, ruled out a possible congestion. According to him, the traffic flow from Sector 15 metro station towards New Ashok Nagar was low. “So, congestion at this point will be lower once the diversion is put in place as one part of the traffic will not be allowed to merge at the Indian Oil intersection. There is a U-turn a few metres ahead which the traffic going towards east Delhi can use,” he said.Traffic, however, remained slow on the stretch from Naya Baans to Sector 15 from 6pm till late on Friday as the traffic police placed temporary barriers at the Sector 15 intersection without issuing an advisory.Sumedha Vashisht, a commuter, said vehicles were moving at snail’s pace. “At least, a prior warning could be given before starting any such diversion,” she said.Assistant traffic inspector Avinash Saini agreed traffic was slow in parts of the stretch, but said it did not cause any massive snarl.

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