Our sector is a planned sector, hence it’s roads also follow certain planning rules in its layout and sizes. The basic pattern of the road layout in our sector follows a modified ‘swastik’ symbol. The main roads from each of the outside sectoral roads after entering the sector do not go straight to the opposite side sectoral road. This somewhat discourages through traffic. From these four main roads secondary roads go into different blocks providing direct vehicular access to each house. This is the main benefit of having a house on a plot as opposed to flats in apartment blocks.
In terms of widths our sector has four types of roads, 18m, 12m, 9m and 7.5m wide roads. The four main roads are 18m wide. There are only couple of 12m wide roads. The roads inside blocks are 9m wide. Among these the ones which are around parks are 7.5m wide. Roads are very important for any development. These not only allow movement of vehicles and people, they also provide space to run all service lines like sewer, water supply, telephone, internet, gas etc. It also accommodates the rainwater drains. This space runs on both sides of the carriage way i.e. on which vehicles run. So, these side linear spaces are very important spaces to accommodate essential infrastructure. They also are the spaces where electric poles, sign boards, trash bins and most importantly trees come. Because of that almost 50% of the road width is kept for this purpose. This space is also used for parking, specially in wider roads. In a 18m wide road, the carriage way i.e., the tarmac is only 6m wide leaving 6m wide side spaces on either side. The total area of land taken by roads is about 22 acres which is about 20% of the sector area. In comparison the area under parks is 8 acres. But unfortunately, very often this is the portion of land which is encroached upon.
Trees are very important elements of a street. It gives character to it, provide shade and together they act as ‘lungs’ of the sector providing the essential green cover. Many of the street trees of our sector are flowering type and in season they provide spectacular views. The horticulture department had chosen the right kind of species and had planted them in proper gaps in between so that parking can happen efficiently. But many plot owners have added trees of their choice on roadsides in front of their houses. They certainly look nice but takes away possible parking spaces. Also, many people have paved these roadside spaces making them totally impervious to rainwater. As a result, rainwater does not soak into ground and runs into side drains which are not designed for this extra water and water logging takes place. In most developed countries you are not allowed to do anything on the roadside without permission from the authorities even for planting trees. In fact, NOIDA had such rules, maybe they still have. In 1990 when I wanted to plant two Gulmohar trees in front of my house, instead of the Alstonia (satni) trees the authority was planting in my lane, I had to take permission.
Although the roads in our sector are adequate and nice but there is a problem in the road network planning. There are too many roads of the sector which open up to the outside sectoral roads. Besides the four entries on the 18m wide main roads, there are eleven more entries to the sector leading directly to the blocks. These are far too many by any planning standard. It only creates confusion in movement and it is a major safety issue of today and that is why so many of those entries are actually closed with gates. In fact, for a sector of our size (700x600m) only four entries would have been sufficient. In which case the longest distance one had to travel to reach the nearest gate would have been only around 500 meters.
One hopes one day all the encroachments will go and the residents of the sector will get back their roads in their real widths and use.
