Massive Traffic hit Noida-Greater Noida Expressway amid PM Modi's Semicon India 2024 visit

Traffic heading towards the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway experienced significant congestion on Wednesday morning as Noida traffic police halted vehicles for approximately half an hour to facilitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy. This disruption occurred as the PM was en route to inaugurate the Semicon India programme at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida. The three-day event, running from September 11 to 13 and themed “Shaping the Semiconductor Future,” showcases India's semiconductor strategy with participation from global semiconductor industry leaders.
The congestion began around 10 am when Modi's convoy entered Noida via the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) Flyway and the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. This led to gridlock, affecting all roads leading to the expressway for much of the morning. Despite a traffic advisory issued by the police regarding diversions and restrictions, commuters faced extended delays.

Deputy commissioner of police, traffic, Yamuna Prasad, provided more details about the measures taken. “As per the traffic advisory, we stopped the traffic for around seven minutes on DND Flyway and the expressway to facilitate the PM motorcade. The traffic restrictions were relaxed after the motorcade crossed the expressway,” Prasad said.

Despite these measures, commuters reported being stuck in traffic for longer periods. Rajat Gupta from Sector 15 recounted his experience. “I left home around 9.45 am for my office in Greater Noida and got stuck after traffic was halted near expressway. I was unaware of the VIP movement, but the traffic police should have made an elaborate plan to avoid any inconvenience to the common man,” he stated.

Multiple locations, including the Chilla border, Sector 16, 18, Panchseel Bala Vidyalaya underpass, and around GIP Mall, reported severe traffic congestion. As the delays lengthened, frustrated commuters shared their grievances on social media.

Gaurishankar Mishra voiced his concerns on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Dear Sir @narendramodi, due to your visit to Greater Noida, the Delhi-Noida border area is completely jam-packed for 1 hour. Children are stuck in their buses and the roads are in a mess currently. The Prime Minister could have gone using a helicopter.”

Niharika Mahajan echoed similar sentiments on X, writing, “I am always puzzled to see common man suffer every time due to VIP movement happening in India. There should be traffic diversion happening. Going to our daily work always gets affected due to these movements.”

Following the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Modi returned to Delhi via helicopter around 1 pm, easing the pressure on the roads to some extent.

The traffic advisory and subsequent halts were part of heightened security measures to ensure the safe passage of the Prime Minister’s motorcade. Although intended to last around seven minutes, the impact on the traffic extended far beyond, inconveniencing daily commuters and schoolchildren.
The Semicon India event itself is a crucial platform for India to demonstrate its advancements and strategies in the semiconductor industry. Many hoped that future VIP movements would be better managed to minimize public inconvenience while maintaining necessary security protocols.

In conclusion, while the intent was to maintain security during the Prime Minister's visit, the resultant traffic disruptions underscore the need for more efficient traffic management strategies during significant VIP movements.