A long-pending demand for Greater Noida West (GNW) Metro has gathered fresh momentum, with residents now preparing to increase their protests. According to a report by The Times of India, over 3.5 lakh
residents from more than 50 housing societies convened on Sunday to plan a mass protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on April 26.
The proposed demonstration aims to draw the attention of government officials and concerned authorities to what residents describe as an urgent and unmet need for metro connectivity in the area. During the meeting, slogans such as “Metro tumko deni padegi (you have to give us Metro), “hamari maange poori karo (fulfill our demands)” and “DPR ka kaisa khel, kab aayegi metro rail (what kind of game is this, when will the metro rail arrive)” reportedly echoed among attendees.
The gathering was organised by the Noida Extension Flat Owners Welfare Association (NEFOWA), where participants voiced frustration over what they see as a decade-long delay despite repeated assurances. “We have been waiting for 10 years for this essential service to be implemented. The time for mere promises is over; we need action,” said Abhishek Kumar, president of NEFOWA, as quoted by TOI.
Kumar further stated that thousands of residents are expected to participate in the April 26 protest, reiterating that the core objective is to pressurise authorities into addressing the Metro connectivity issue. Representatives from multiple housing societies also committed to mobilising residents, underlining the need for a strong turnout.
The report noted that the agitation has been building in recent days. A symbolic protest held last week saw residents “pull” a mock Metro pillar near the final Metro pillar close to the Sector-71 intersection leading towards GNW. The act was intended to highlight their frustration and received considerable public support.
Residents cited worsening traffic congestion, long commute times, and daily inconvenience as key concerns stemming from the lack of efficient public transport. “We are compelled to face heavy traffic congestion, wasted travel time, and daily inconveniences. We are no longer satisfied with mere assurances. We demand concrete action,” TOI quoted Brijesh Kumar, a resident of GNW, as saying.
The situation has been further aggravated by recent developments regarding the project. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Greater Noida West Metro extension, from Noida Sector-51 to GNW, was reportedly rejected by the Centre for the second time on April 3 due to technical reasons.
The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has now been asked to prepare a fresh DPR, leading to additional delays in a project that had already been scaled down to a 7.5-km corridor with 5 stations.
