The long-awaited Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad (FNG) Expressway project is finally moving forward, thanks to a major agreement between the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments, as published by Hindustan Times.
The two states have decided to equally share the cost of constructing a crucial 600-meter bridge across the Yamuna River near Noida’s Mangroli village, which will connect the expressway to Faridabad.
This announcement came after years of delays and frustration. Officials from the Noida Authority and the Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA) revealed on Sunday that the project, which promises to cut travel time by up to 40 minutes between the three cities, will now be funded jointly by both states. The Noida Authority will bear 50% of the cost for the construction of the bridge, while the Haryana agency will be responsible for its construction.
“The project will benefit not just Ghaziabad and Noida, but also Faridabad, as it will reduce travel time by up to 40 minutes,” said Vijay Rawal, Chief General Manager of the Noida Authority.
The FNG Expressway was first proposed in 1989 to ease congestion in Delhi by providing an alternate route for motorists traveling between Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad. However, a lack of coordination between Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, coupled with funding disputes—particularly concerning the Yamuna bridge—has caused the project to stall for over two decades.
The breakthrough follows a directive from the then Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, Durga Shankar Mishra, who urged officials to revive and expedite the project during a meeting on January 29, 2023. Mishra emphasized the need to complete the expressway to alleviate pressure on existing roads in the region.
The 22-kilometer section of the FNG Expressway in Noida, which begins at NH-24 (Delhi-Meerut Expressway), is about 70% complete and partially operational. However, land disputes and funding disagreements have delayed progress. A 5-kilometer elevated stretch over the Hindon embankment road will also be constructed once the bridge work begins.
“Small patches of the road, which were delayed due to land issues, will now be resolved,” Rawal added.
Rajesh Kaushik, Senior Town Planner at FMDA, confirmed that the agreement between the two state governments will allow the project to move forward. “This will directly connect Faridabad with Noida, benefiting thousands of commuters,” Kaushik said.
Currently, only a 3-kilometer stretch of the expressway, connecting Chhijarsi on NH-24 with Noida Extension, is operational. A further 9 kilometers, extending from Chhijarsi to Sector 117, is ready but remains closed to traffic due to unresolved land issues at Sector 117, which has impacted connectivity within Noida itself.
“The work at Sector 117 has stalled due to land disputes. While parts of the stretch are ready up to Dadri Road and then to the Noida Expressway, gaps in the route prevent motorists from using it,” explained a senior Noida Authority official on the condition of anonymity.
The delays have led to frustration among residents of sectors 119 and 120, where several group housing societies are located. They have been demanding the quick completion of the expressway for better intra-city access. “The incomplete FNG causes daily traffic congestion. We don’t understand why the Noida Authority can’t finish even small sections of the expressway,” said Amita Singh, a resident of Sector 119.
Due to the incomplete expressway, many commuters are forced to use a single lane near Sector 115, creating traffic problems and safety hazards. “The Noida Authority must finish the small stretches so that we can use the expressway smoothly,” said Satish Kumar, a resident of Sector 116.
Although most of the FNG Expressway was built in 2013, it has not seen significant progress since then. “Since 2013, the authority has not completed any remaining stretches. We don’t understand why the Noida Authority can’t finish the parts that fall under their jurisdiction,” said Umesh Singh, a resident of Sector 167.