Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh: A new project is taking shape as UP plans ₹40 Crore riverfront to clean up the Hindon River. The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) announced a 1.5 km riverfront stretch from City Forest to Raj Nagar Extension. Years ago, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the GDA to build a riverfront like the Gomti project in Lucknow.
Rudresh Shukla, GDA’s media coordinator, said that about 800 meters of riverfront will be developed on both sides of the Hindon. The stretch will lie between the embankment and the outer ring road to Raj Nagar Extension. The project is estimated at ₹40 crore, and the GDA will soon invite companies to prepare a detailed project report.
The Hindon River is among the most polluted in western Uttar Pradesh. Ten drains from Ghaziabad release untreated sewage directly into it. A 2022 Pollution Control Board report found that 310 industrial units damage the river. Out of these, 220 are in Ghaziabad. Tanneries and dyeing factories remain the worst offenders.
Last year, investigators found untreated waste from Tronica City Apparel Park, electronic scrap, and civic garbage flowing into the river. Although treatment plants exist, they cannot handle the massive volume. As a result, dark and toxic waters continue to harm local communities and wildlife.
Environmentalists warn that a riverfront without clean water will fail. Vikrant Sharma of Hindon Jal Biradari said untreated drains make the plan flawed. He also explained that authorities made little effort to restore the Hindon in the last decade. Sharma urged the use of natural designs instead of concrete banks, which can increase flooding risks.
Other cities in Uttar Pradesh are also reviewing their projects. The Delhi Development Authority recently shifted its Yamuna riverfront design. They decided to focus on green areas after heavy rains flooded concrete structures. Similarly, the Yamuna Expressway Authority has ordered a flood risk study before starting its project in Mathura.
These examples show that cities want attractive riverfronts, but they must also ensure safety and ecology. In Ghaziabad, community involvement will be vital. Residents can support clean-up drives and push for stronger policies to protect the Hindon.
Large projects like the Hindon riverfront may make the city more livable. However, officials must first revive the river itself. Cleaner water will allow people to enjoy the full beauty and benefits of a new riverfront. In the end, the effort where UP plans ₹40 Crore riverfront to clean up reflects ambition and responsibility, but success depends on saving the Hindon before building around it.
