Ghaziabad to be smartcity this year?

It has been all over the news recently that Ghaziabad is going to be turned to a smart city in the coming year.  In order to turn the city into a smart one lots of infrastructural changes have to be brought about.  The most important and immediate issues are to decongest traffic, construct new roads and widen the existing ones especially highways, improvement in drainage and sewerage system, cleaning of roads, parks and public places, disposal of wastes etc… The works are being carried out by the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA).

Priorities of GDA:

Their foremost priority is to complete the ongoing infrastructural work as soon as possible and they have developed a minimal time frame for each.  The authority is working on dozens of projects like expansion of Metro rail from Dilshad Garden (New Delhi) to new bus terminus in Ghaziabad. Another major project is the widening of NH-24 and construction of Northern Peripheral Expressway.  There are plans to construct more roads parallel to the existing ones to reduce traffic signals and jams.

Garbage disposal and paper sanitisation:

With increasing urbanisation, the population has also increased in the city thus producing hundreds of tonnes of additional garbage. The GDA is working to identify a place to construct a proper landfill site.  They are also working on other waste management system.  Will work on ‘waste management project’. The authority, in association with the Municipal Corporation, will ensure sanitation and cleanliness of every nook and corner. The construction of more sewer treatment plants are also in the pipeline.

Bringing in a Wi-Fi zone:

In the recent past, the GDA has worked a lot on Wi-Fi projects and even free Wi-Fi facility is being provided in several areas. Major roads, public places, key markets, etc will soon be equipped with Wi-Fi.

Laws against illegal constructions:

There is already a provision to check illegal constructions, however, their effectiveness have been questioned many times in the past.  GDA plans to develop a special task force with the law enforcement agency.  The GDA will initiate penal action against squatters who have encroached upon public land in and around the city. Road side encroachments will also be taken care of. The owners of illegal constructions will be heavily penalised and their licenses will be cancelled.

The GDA will review ongoing works as well as pending projects with in two-three weeks period. If money is required, it will be released at the earliest.