From Sports Grounds to Safer Roads: A Vision for Noida’s Future

As a long-time urban planner and now a resident of Noida, I see the immense potential this city holds. With its wide road networks, generous green cover, and well-planned residential and commercial zones, Noida has the foundation to be a truly world-class urban center. But to keep pace with the needs of its growing population, some focused improvements are both necessary and feasible. Based on my observations and successful practices adopted in cities like Pune, I offer the following suggestions for Noida’s betterment.

1. Dedicated Practice Spaces for Football and Cricket

A large number of children in Noida’s housing societies play football and cricket — often in tight, informal spaces. This sometimes causes disturbance to nearby flats and creates safety issues.

During a recent visit to Pune, I saw designated practice areas for football and cricket, built in open zones using honeycomb fencing and nylon nets. These enclosed setups ensure safety for players and pedestrians alike.

Suggestion: Allocate just 10% of green belt areas near housing clusters for such practice grounds. These spaces can be managed by sports departments or government agencies, who may charge nominal hourly fees. This will promote physical activity while reducing nuisance in residential areas. I’ve attached sample photographs and a suggested location in Sector 137 for reference.

2. Shade Structures for Open Parking

Many housing societies in Noida provide open-air parking in addition to basement parking. During peak summer months, vehicles in these areas get excessively heated.

In Pune’s Marvel Cascada Society, a simple yet elegant shading system has been implemented over outdoor parking spots. These structures are both functional and visually pleasing.

Suggestion: Allow societies to install approved canopy or shading solutions over open parking areas, subject to standard design and safety norms.

3. Make Roads Pedestrian-Friendly

Noida’s roads are broad and divided by beautifully landscaped medians. This makes driving smooth, but for pedestrians, these long dividers can become barriers. People are often forced to walk long distances to find crossing points, or worse, attempt unsafe crossings.

Suggestion: Introduce pedestrian cuts in central dividers at every 500-meter interval to facilitate safe and convenient road crossing.

4. Curb Wrong-Side Driving with Strict Enforcement

Driving on the wrong side of the road is a major safety hazard in Noida. Unfortunately, this violation is common — practiced by everyone from two-wheeler riders to luxury car owners — with little fear of consequences.

Suggestion: Impose heavy fines and stricter enforcement on wrong-side driving. Without strong deterrents, this life-threatening behavior will continue unchecked.

5. Develop Paid Parking Solutions Across Noida

Parking remains a persistent issue — both in high-footfall market and office areas, as well as in residential society clusters.

In commercial zones like those near Advent, “No Parking” signs are everywhere, and challans are routinely issued, even though formal parking options are missing. Traffic police say it’s the Authority’s responsibility to create infrastructure.

Meanwhile, in housing societies, visitors are often not allowed to bring vehicles inside, leaving them to park haphazardly around the periphery.

Proposal: Create designated paid parking lots in both commercial and residential areas. Clear signage such as “You Can Park Here” should be placed in commercial zones. In society clusters, use nearby open or unused land to develop paid visitor parking zones. This would improve accessibility, reduce traffic violations, and generate revenue for the Authority.