Flyover to parking lot, GDA pushes for ‘challenge funds’

Ghaziabad: Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has pitched four infrastructure projects worth a combined Rs 1,580 crore for funding under the Urban Challenge Fund—a newly launched scheme designed to draw private capital into a city’s redevelopment—at a meeting with the ministry of housing and urban affairs on Saturday.GDA vice-chairperson presented the proposals at a meeting with the ministry officials, covering the redevelopment of Tulsi Niketan housing complex (Rs 600 crore), a 2-km flyover at Choudhary Mod on GT Road (Rs 200 crore), a multi-level parking facility at Rajnagar District Centre (Rs 100 crore), and a jointly developed international cricket stadium with the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (Rs 680 crore).The Urban Challenge Fund, launched in April 2026, aims to catalyse urban infrastructure investment through market-linked financing. Under the scheme, the Centre covers 25% of project costs, while 50% has to be raised through market instruments such as municipal bonds, bank loans or public-private partnerships. States, urban local bodies or other sources contribute the remainder.“Ghaziabad, as a fast-growing NCR city, makes a fit case for inclusion,” a GDA official said.The Tulsi Niketan complex with 220 LIG flats, 2,004 EWS flats and 60 shops was developed by GDA on 7.8 hectares in the 1990s. As the condition of the complex has deteriorated sharply over three decades, GDA board has already approved its redevelopment under the Urban Redevelopment Policy 2026, a framework to address unsafe and crumbling structures.The proposed flyover targets the Choudhary Mod intersection, identified by the Central Road Research Institute as one of the busiest tri-junctions in the city. Located on GT Road near Chaudhary Cinema and a temple, the junction has long been flagged for congestion. “Various plans were discussed in the past to decongest the stretch but never got off the ground due to funding or logistics constraints,” a GDA official said.At Rajnagar District Centre, the commercial hub of the district, a multi-level parking facility has been a long-pending demand as parking space remains acutely short.GDA officials said a formal response from the ministry is awaited.