In an effort to promote sustainable urban development, the Noida Authority has announced plans to install solar panels at six Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) around the city. Over the next five years, the project seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 500,000 tons and produce 6 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity, authorities said.

Approximately 2,000 units of power are now used daily by each STP. This consumption might be halved with solar panels, saving around 1,000 units per facility per day. Thirty grams of carbon emissions are reduced for every unit of power saved. Thus, this action would contribute to reducing pollution and safeguarding the environment,” said RP Singh, general manager of the Noida authority’s water works department.

The project has been approved in principle by the authority, and a detailed project report (DPR) is now being prepared to determine the project’s total cost. According to authorities, the Authority also intends to use solar energy to power lighting as part of its larger goal to turn Noida into a “solar city” under the 2024–2025 budget.

The Authority intends to ask the federal government for Rs 200 to 300 crore in financing under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in addition to its solar projects in order to bolster its efforts to reduce pollution.

“This funding will be used to reduce pollution from vehicles and enhance traffic conditions. The Noida authority’s chief executive officer, Lokesh M, said that Noida has previously earned Rs 30 crore twice under the same scheme.

The revamping of municipal traffic lights to provide unrestricted left turns is one of the main recommendations under the NCAP financing plan. “We’ll clear off obstacles like walkways and encroachments to prevent cars from stopping at signals needlessly. For this, a survey of the whole city would be conducted,” Lokesh said.

According to officials, roadways that experience regular traffic jams will also be upgraded using NCAP cash. Another component of the project is a skywalk that would link NH-9 and Ghaziabad close to sector 62. The authority has completed bids for six new trash-processing facilities, each with a 40-ton daily capacity, in an effort to improve solid waste management. To improve the general cleanliness of the city, new equipment for cleaning roads and drains will be purchased.