Greater Noida: In an unusual protest for better public transport, around 200 residents of Greater Noida West tied two ropes to the last Metro pillar at the Sector 71 intersection and pulled hard, symbolically attempting to “extend the Metro line” into their neighbourhood.
The protest was organised by the Noida Extension Flat Owners Welfare Association (NEFOWA), which is demanding a Metro connection for the rapidly growing residential area.
Residents say public transport is falling short
Among those taking part was 40-year-old Abhishek Kumar, who leads NEFOWA. He said the area now has around 10 lakh residents and at least 80 housing societies.
According to Kumar, residents face daily traffic congestion while travelling to workplaces in Noida and Delhi and during their return journeys.
The residents argue that the lack of adequate public transport has made commuting increasingly difficult as the population of Greater Noida West continues to grow.
Protest sends a symbolic message
By pulling the ropes attached to the Metro pillar, the residents sought to highlight what they see as the physical and transport gap between the existing Metro network and their neighbourhood.
The demonstration was intended to draw attention to the demand for extending Metro connectivity into Greater Noida West, where thousands of families now live.
For residents, the protest reflects a broader concern that transport infrastructure has not kept pace with rapid residential development.
The homeowners’ group is seeking improved Metro connectivity to ease dependence on roads and provide residents with a faster and more reliable public transport option for daily travel towards Noida and Delhi.