Noida: Declared dilapidated by the Noida Authority, a narrow bridge linking Sector 81 Metro Station to Salarpur village continues to function as a key pedestrian shortcut, exposing daily commuters to serious risk. Despite visible cracks and an uneven surface, residents of Salarpur and neighbouring Bhangel, most of them industrial and domestic workers, use the bridge to cross the Kondli drain and reach the metro station and workplaces in the NSEZ, Sector 81 and nearby 7x sectors, especially during morning rush hours. With no barricades or access restrictions, pedestrians are forced to squeeze past each other, often stepping onto the low parapet wall to avoid crowds or stray cattle that also move across the connector. Below, the Kondli drain is clogged with filth and plastic waste, amplifying the danger of a slip or structural failure. The continued use of the unsafe crossing has renewed concerns over civic enforcement and public safety, weeks after software engineer Yuvraj Mehta drowned in an unbarricaded, water-filled trench in Sector 150. While the Authority’s health department is responsible for sanitation in the area, maintenance of the bridge falls under the civil wing. Noida Authority general manager (civil) AK Arora did not respond to requests for comment.
