Taffic on the road from NH 24 towards Crossings Republik comes to a halt
Day-time traffic on the road from NH 24 towards Crossings Republik, Ghaziabad, came to a standstill on November 13, as residents of the township blocked the area to draw attention to their longstanding civic woes. They also protested against the presence of a carbon-manufacturing plant in the vicinity.
The protest gathered momentum by 11 am, as hundreds of angry residents gathered in front of the gate of the township, and started shouting slogans against the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) and Crossings Infrastructure Pvt Ltd or CIPL.
Residents gather in front of the gate of the township to protest against the civic authorities and the realtor
One of the major concerns for the residents was the absence of a proper approach-and-exit road for the township. The existing one, which starts from NH 24 and reaches Noida Extension while passing through the complex, is narrow and faces heavy traffic during rush hours.
Construction work for an alternative route from the highway to Noida Extension via Rishpalgarhi Village nearby has been stayed by the Allahabad High Court owing to a dispute between the GDA, the CIPL and the locals. The matter is yet to be resolved.
Echoing the views of the protestors, Sanjay Jha, a resident, said in the absence of an alternative route, people wasted nearly two hours of their precious daylight while trying to negotiate the busy link road. Nakki Puria, a resident doctor, said heavy congestion often proved fatal during medical emergencies, as even ambulances found it hard to get a free passage.
Angry protestors refuse to budge even after the local police ask them to vacate the place
Residents also protested against the presence of Continental Carbon India Limited in the area. They complained that their window panes and balcony floors are covered in layers of carbon every day.
The local police asked the angry protesters to clear the premises, however, they refused to budge. But they were somehow mollified after the arrival of city magistrate Bhram Deo Singh, who brought the situation under control.
Residents presented their problems to the magistrate and asked for a timeframe on action. However, Singh refused to provide any dates, saying that the matter required investigation. But he did assure the residents of swift action, and called a meeting with them at his office on November 16.
City magistrate Bhram Deo Singh speaks to the residents
The residents, however, were not to be pacified easily and threatened to block the highway soon if the administration failed to act within three weeks.
