Glamourising Ghaziabad

7 Sep, 2007, 0729 hrs IST,Akash Vashishtha , TNN India

With world-class residential townships, the world's biggest power project, fastest growing commercial centres like Raj Nagar District Center, biggest retail destination, proposal for fourteen new flyovers and Metro Rail connectivity, Ghaziabad is fast emerging as the preferred residential destination in the NCR.

The sixth most dynamic city of the world is all set to prove its worth. With a number of major world-class projects on various fronts coming up, the city is becoming the hottest investment destination in the NCR.

New Flyovers

The GDA has proposed to build fourteen new flyovers, grade separators, underpasses and clover passes at different points of the city.

Work on four of these flyovers is underway. These flyovers are not only expected to ease the traffic congestion in the city in a big way, but also beautify the city, leading to land cost appreciation. The flyovers would be built by the Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation (UPSBC) at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 200 crores.

Besides, work on a six-lane expressway is also underway. The work on the Rs 33.94 crore, 8 km expressway, connecting GT Road with NH-58 bypassing the Ghaziabad city is expected to be completed by December 2008.

The 28-metre-wide signal-free expressway was conceived by the GDA with a view to ease the traffic on the NH-58 and to provide an alternative route to traffic coming from Delhi and heading towards Dehradun and Hapur.

Metro rail MoU soon

The Metro Rail proposal is back on tracks. S K Divedi, vice-chairman , GDA, said, "The Metro project is likely to be cleared by the state government soon. An MoU would be signed with the DMRC within a month.

Under the proposed Phase-II of the Metro Rail, the Rajiv Chowk-Anand Vihar link has been extended from Anand Vihar to Vaishali. It will pass through Kaushambi before reaching Vaishali. Two stations for the Metro Rail have also been finalised - one at Kaushambi and another at Vaishali.

The total length of this line is 2.05 km and would be built on an elevated track. The project is estimated to cost Rs 167 crores and is expected to be completed by September 2010 enabling the residents of the area to reach Rajiv Chowk in 22 minutes.

Biggest power project

Work on the much awaited world's largest gas-based power generation project of the Reliance Power Ltd at the proposed Dhirubhai Ambani Energy City, Dadri has already commenced. The work of constructing the 24 km boundary wall and levelling of land, costing Rs 18 crores, has been awarded to the city-based construction firms and is expected to be complete by the end of this year.

The actual work on the project is likely to commence by the end of this year. The 5600 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at Dadri, once completed and commissioned, would address the power problems of northern region in a big way. Power from the project would be mainly supplied to UP, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. The first phase of the gas-based power project comprising 1400 MW is likely to be operational by mid 2010.

Integrated and Hi-Tech townships

An integrated township - Crossings Republik is being developed on NH-24 by Crossing Infrastructure, a consortium of seven promoters, including Gaursons India, Assotech, Supertech Constructions and Mahagun.

Another major township that would alter the landscape of the region is the much talked about Hi-Tech Township, slated to come up on NH-24 near Dasna village, which is being developed by Uppal Chadha and Sun City Projects.

Although the project is being reviewed by the Mayawati government, but once cleared, the township will extend the urban periphery of the city. As part of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, GDA is planning to have two big five star hotel projects in the city.

Commercial ecstasy

On the investment front, Ghaziabad is attracting heavy investments. One can see the increasing presence of MNCs, banks, telecom and insurance companies in Raj Nagar District Centre (RDC), one of the fastest growing commercial centres not only in Ghaziabad but also of NCR.

Property market breached all records recently when a property in the area was auctioned for Rs 50,000 per sq yrd. Besides, the presence of police and district administration headquarters in the area are making the area safer. The effects of rising commercial activity could be felt in the nearby residential areas like Raj Nagar and Kavi Nagar. While Raj Nagar has a market rate of Rs 30,000-35 ,000 per sq yrd, that in the Kavi Nagar floats between Rs 25,000-30 000 per sq yrd.

Illuminated city

The city has good news on the power front too. The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) has plans to build new substations at various places in the city.

Says S N Yadav, deputy general manager, UPPCL: ''For the last 8-10 years, no sub-station has been built in the city. We are still working with the old transformers. Although, the earlier planning has been good to sustain the power needs of the city for ten years, there is now saturation in the town. We need new substations given the kind of load witnessed by the city.''

According to Yadav, 50 acres of land has been earmarked in the Integrated City area for building 400 KV, while a 220 KV substation has been proposed in the area. Another 220 KV substation for Indirapuram would come up at NH-24 for which funds would be given by GDA.

Increased water supply to Ghaziabad

Residents of Ghaziabad can expect to get an improved drinking water supply in the days ahead. The Jal Nigam is planning to increase the present water supply of 210 million litres per day (MLD) to the city to the required 217 MLD of drinking water.

YP Singh, executive engineer (Additional Project Division) UP Jal Nigam, says: ''The 2001 census shows a population of 9.68 lakh for the city. Going by that figure, the population in 2007 is assumed to be roughly around 14 lakh. To meet the demand of the present population, we need a drinking water supply of about 155 LPCD or 217 MLD as against the present supply of 210 MLD.''

Green Ghaziabad

With a reserved forest area of 1400 hectares, currently the district's forest cover is about 1.66%, the highest in NCR. Nearly 1.05 lakh trees were recently planted by the forest department, making the city all green and pollution-free zone.

The city is also known for some of the best parks in the national capital region like the 40 acres Ram Manohar Lohia Park in Rajendra Nagar and the 25-acre Swarna Jayanti Park in Indirapuram.

Focal point

Ghaziabad is the sixth most dynamic city of the world and is now becoming the hottest investment destination in the NCR with a number of major world-class projects on various fronts. As part of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, GDA is planning to have two big five star hotel projects in the city. The Jal Nigam is planning to increase the water supply to the city.