No entry for trucks on e-way, other key routes in rush hrs

Noida: Traffic police banned the entry of goods vehicles – including heavy, medium and light ones – on key routes during peak hours to streamline traffic movement.

This restriction applies to the Noida Expressway as well as MP 1, MP 2, and MP 3 roads from 7am to 11am and 5pm to 10pm everyday.

Traffic cops said that the move is in compliance with GRAP stage 1 guidelines, which came into effect on Tuesday. The new restrictions also aim to alleviate traffic jams on these crucial routes. Previously, only heavy goods carriers were banned during peak hours, but small and medium goods carriers were exempt. Now, all categories of goods vehicles will face restrictions.

"Goods vehicles will be restricted on Noida Expressway on both sides, as well as on Udhyog Marg from Sector 15 roundabout to Jhundpura Chowk; Sector 2/3 to Sector 12/56; Atta Peer to Sector 54 via DM Chowk and Jalvayu Vihar Chowk," said DCP (Traffic) Yamuna Prasad.

MP 1 connects DND Flyway to Sector 62 via Rajnigandha Chowk, Sector 12/22/56, Sector 57, Khoda Tiraha, and Labour Chowk. MP 2 connects Film City flyover to Sector 60 underpass and MP 3 connects Okhla Barrage to Kisan Chowk via Mahamaya Flyway, Sector 37, Shahshi Chowk, and City Centre metro station.

Similar restrictions will be in place on DSC Road from New Ashok Nagar to Noida Phool Mandi in Phase 2 via Naya Bans, Atta Challera, Barolla, Salarpur, Bhangel, etc.

Traffic cops have been deployed at Zero Point on Noida Expressway, near Sector 94, Kisan Chowk, New Ashok Nagar, Chilla border, DND Flyway, Kalindi Kunj, and Model Town to stop such vehicles during restricted hours. However, vehicles carrying essential commodities like LPG, CNG, petroleum, milk, and vegetables will be exempted from the ban, the DCP added.

Additionally, goods vehicles and e-rickshaws will not be permitted from Atta Peer to Atta Chowk during peak hours. Slow-moving vehicles such as autos, e-rickshaws, and bullock carts are also prohibited on Noida Expressway.

These measures coincide with the recent guidelines from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for GRAP stage 1. The guideline emphasizes the importance of ensuring smooth traffic flow on congested corridors, strict vigilance, enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms, and zero tolerance for visible emissions.

The city's air quality saw slight improvement on Wednesday with an AQI of 159, compared to 170 the day before — both in the ‘moderate' category. Greater Noida also saw an improvement in air quality, recording AQI in the ‘moderate' category (178), against 206 (poor) the day before. Ghaziabad, however, saw a slight deterioration as air quality plunged back to the ‘poor' category with an AQI of 203, against 181 (moderate) on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, traffic police conducted an enforcement drive at various sectors and issued 5,347 challans for multiple violations on Tuesday.