Team: Kanchi Kohli
Year of commencement: 2003
Year of completion: Ongoing

Kalpavriksh has been helping Samrakshan Trust in a campaign against the construction of an interchange/flyover in Noida. The construction of this flyover would damage an important Green space Smriti Van which is on the periphery of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary. Kalpavriksh and Samrakshan had put together a report highlighting the critical concerns and submitted it to the Noida Authority. Samrakshan Trust had also approached the Allahbad High Court in this matter. The issue had reached a point where the Noida Authority had asked Samrakshan Trust and other concerned NGOs to present an alternate to the present flyover design as well as point out as to what can be done with the construction of pillars already taken place. Basically the report highlighted:

1.        Problems with the existing structure, including countering the point that Rs.17 crores being already spent and thus the flyover needs to go through

2.       Looking at a possible alternate design.

3.       Restoration of the damage already done.

This would need to be done with the help of transport experts and landscape designers that Samrakshan Trust was already in touch with. Kanchi Kohli coordinated and compiled the information, after which it was submitted to the Noida Authority. The matter has not presently moved further due to the change of personnel in the Noida Authority. There is a possibility of an expert group being constituted to look into the issue. This group would comprise of urban planning experts, ecologists etc.