It is now a known fact that the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and the associated phenomena — jams, holdups, broken service roads and unending queues at the two toll plazas — have made life difficult for commuters, but the devil, as the saying goes, is in the details.
Absence of pedestrian walkways, near absence of cross-over facilities like foot-overbridges and underpasses, and messy and uncoordinated intersections are some of the design flaws that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in its defence against catechism from the Parliament and the CAG, said it did not anticipate while planning the expressway.
“Either the expressway, meant to fly past Delhi and Gurgaon to Jaipur, should not have been used by the local traffic of Gurgaon, or the NHAI should have planned the expressway keeping in mind the needs of Gurgaon traffic as well,” said Rohit Baluja, president of Institute of Road Traffic Education and director of College of Traffic Management, Faridabad.
Baluja says that the Gurgaon traffic has created a muddle for the expressway.
“The Gurgaon authorities did not coordinate with the NHAI. They saw that development along the highway was easy and profitable, and did not develop their internal traffic mechanism, putting the entire pressure on the highway.
“There was lack of planning from the beginning. The volume of traffic was 10 times the figure estimated on the very first day of operations. The authorities, clearly, did not take into account population growth, rise in number of vehicles, the expected rate of industrial growth in new Gurgaon, and migration from Delhi,” said urban planning expert Sarika Panda Bhat.
Bhat also suggests constructing a bypass to avoid the traffic muddle created due to the expressway and the toll plazas.
After Seoul removed the Cheonggyecheon highway, the average price for apartments in the area rose by almost 25% as compared to only 10% in the neighborhoods farther away. Rents for commercial office spaces rose, too. Who knows the case might be the same for Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway.
Visakhapatnam: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation proposed to implement an Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) as part of the Sustainable Urban Transport Project in the city for meeting future traffic needs.
Officials placed the proposal in the City Development Plan to be implemented during 2013-2020. The system is now being implemented in Indore, Mysore, Pune, Naya Raipur, and Pimpri-Chinchwad in Maharashtra, according to officials.
Increasing traffic has resulted in increased problems like traffic jams, delay, accidents, pollution, etc, that pose a potential threat to the productive efficiency of the city population. The decadal population growth of 75 pc observed between 1991-2001 in the city and the urban agglomeration is also expected to increase to 35 lakh by 2021.
The registered growth of vehicles in the city between 2000 and 2006 was also estimated at 9 pc per annum. About 4.5 lakh registered vehicles were plying on the city roads in 2007, 90 pc of which are cars and motorised two-wheeler vehicles with 3 lakh trips.
Now, the number has increased to around 6.5 lakh and the projected travel is predicted to grow to 29 lakh trips per day by 2021. The GVMC has already taken up the BRTS project with two corridors.
The Government of India, in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank and UNDP, has initiated the Sustainable Urban Transport Project. Basically, the proposed Intelligent Traffic System is aimed at the integration of ITS components into the proposed BRT system to improve travel time, accessibility, ease of use, and environmental impact.
Traffic signal prioritisation, centralised traffic control centre, surveillance and detection system with sensors and other facilities would be provided under the Rs 785-cr project.
MALAPPURAM: The sub-RTO office of Tirurangadi is creating awareness on traffic and road safety rules.But in a novel way! And that too through post cards.
The office has introduced a programme on creating traffic awareness through postcards and visiting cards with an aim to reduce the number of accidents in the region.
It is sending the post cards, on which different types of traffic safety messages are printed, to the all the applicants who are approaching the office. Staff are also distributing the visiting cards with the road safety rules and acts to the visitors of the office. Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) M P Abdul Subair said that the initiative is aiming to make the people aware of traffic rules so as to save their lives and also of others. The necessity of wearing helmets, wearing seat belts, the directions to avoid usage of mobile phones while driving and the messages which are discouraging drunken driving also would be there among the messages on postcards and visiting cards.
The Highway Jagratha Samithis and Jana Jagratha Samithis are also functioning in the Tirurangadi region in the backdrop of the increasing number of accidents on the Tirurangadi region of NH 66. A squad of around thousand local people including autorickshaw drivers and salesmen on the highway is active with their 24/7 trauma care service along the stretch. The squad which was formed by Tirurangadi police, Vigilance Task Force (HVTF) is active in trauma care service.
The MVI said the initiative is expected to be a success and it will help reduce the number of accidents. “Awareness is the only way to prevent accidents and the fresh model of initiative will receive the attention of public easily,” he said.
To better its existing traffic management system by curbing rampant traffic rule violations, the Noida authority on Monday, decided to introduce electronic (E) challan facility soon.
The authority has roped in telecom major- Airtel for this ambitious project, which will also be helpful in implementation of intelligent traffic management (ITS) in future.
“E-chalan will enable traffic police to issue an instant chalan of a traffic violator. The moment a vehicle found violating any of the traffic rules like- traffic signal jump, rash driving and recklessly changing lanes etc, then police control room will get an SMS with the help of high-tech CCTV cameras installed on traffic poles at all traffic signals,” said Manoj Kumar Rai, officer on special duty (OSD), the Noida authority.
The Noida authority chairman Rama Raman on Monday had a meeting with assistant regional transport officer (ARTO)- Rajesh Singh, and airtel officials including Noida authority traffic cell to brain storm over the project at its sector 6 office.
To ensure smooth travel to thousands of daily commuters, and regulate city’s burgeoning traffic, the authority has already numbered each traffic pole installed at existing 69 traffic signals.
“We will give hand-held devices to traffic police to issue E-Chalan. After Delhi, Noida will be the first city in NCR to have E-chalan facility,” said OSD.
The authority has formed a team consisting of traffic police and traffic cell officials to identify two busy traffic signals, where trials will be conducted.
“If trials will be successful, then in next 2 months, this facility will be implemented in entire city to ensure better traffic regulation. The authority want to ensure that commuters do not face traffic jam,” said OSD.
Officials maintained that it is on way to build a road-map to make way for implementation of intelligent traffic system (ITS), which will work to monitor and regulate city traffic in a high-tech manner ahead.
NEW DELHI: With plans of turning the ISBT Kashmere Gate area into an integrated transit terminal, the Delhi government has asked DIMTS (Delhi integrated multi-modal transit system) to come up with a plan to improve the movement of motorized and non-motorized or pedestrian traffic in the area .
“The integration of ISBT with the Delhi Metro, and later with the regional rapid transit system will lead to traffic at ISBT intersection. We need to streamline this traffic,” said a senior official.
The DIMTS plan is the first phase of the traffic management plan.”A long term proposal for multi-modal integration of the entire complex will be implemented by UTTIPEC later. That will provide seamless travel to commuters for interchanging modes and safe crossing of roads,” said the official. The first phase will look at smoother movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the Lala Hardev Sahai marg after retrofitting of the road. The project has been given approval by UTTIPEC, the umbrella transport body.
The traffic circulation plan was mooted some months ago when the chief secretary had visited ISBT for inspection when it was about to re-open after renovation. At the time, he had ordered a traffic study of the area. The traffic from Ring Road, ISBT flyover, Mahatma Gandhi Road and surrounding areas tends to converge in front of the ISBT.
Officials in the transport department admit that the traffic situation is dire at ISBT despite the crores spent on renovating the bus terminus, with matters set to become worse as the work on the Kashmere Gate Metro station also gets underway. The traffic situation is one reason why the RRTS (regional rapid transit system) project, which had one station in Kashmere Gate ISBT, has been denied approval by the CM, said officials.
“The vehicular traffic is very high here, as it’s an arterial road along with the traffic from the inter-state buses coming in,” said a department official.
PUNE: State additional chief secretary (home)AmitabhRajan on Wednesday directed the civic authorities to expedite implementation ofIntelligent Traffic System (ITS) in the city.Rajan was here to preside over a meeting to review the progress of all proposed traffic improvement works in the city.
During the meeting, he discussed issues concerning encroachments on footpaths and roadsides, procurement of additional buses by PMPML, smooth functioning of all traffic signals, and implementation of the pay and park system for vehicles.
Municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak, police commissioner Gulabrao Pol, deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vishwas Pandhare, and PMPML chairman and managing director Ramchandra Joshi were also present at the meeting.
The implementation of the intelligent traffic system has been delayed for over four years. The system, to be developed at a cost of Rs 16 crore, was to be made operational before the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008. However, it has failed to take off due to various reasons.
The system, which is ready for use, can detect traffic signal violations. It can also help in operations of bus rapid transit system. It has a surveillance system.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials said it has decided to appoint a private agency for managing the ITS. PMC has already invited bids for the same.
“The process of appointing the agency should be completed as soon as possible,” Rajan said, adding that authorities should also expedite the proposals of construction of flyovers at Ghorpadi and Lullanagar.
A proposal to decentralize the operations of the state transport bus service also came up during the meeting. The officials also discussed whether the open spaces of all octroi posts should be given for state transport bus operations.
Rajan has directed the civic authorities to expedite the proposals of construction of flyovers at Ghorpadi and Lullanagar.
The review meeting with officials of all concerned departments is held every month as per the directions of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
The buses move from busy arterial roads in the city, thus, causing traffic congestion at the Swargate and Shivajinagar terminals.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Aimed at bringing transparency and accelerating its services to public, the state Motor Vehicle Department(MVD) has rolled out e-payment facility for private vehicle owners.
Chief minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the facility in the presence of transport minister Aryadan Mohammed, K Muraleedharan MLA and department officials in a function held here on Monday. The facility is now available in all the 73 regional transport offices and public can utilize either directly or from the Akshaya centres. The department had started the online facility in Thiruvananthapuram city transport offices in September, 2011 and successful trial run and warm response from the public prompted the department to widen the network of the facility.
Delivering the presidential address, tourism minister said 45,000 transactions take place in the department on an average every day and with just 1,900 officers, it has become difficult for the department to accelerate the services to people.
“The service not only will save the valuable time of public, but also bring transparency to the activities of the department, which is facing many allegations of bribery and malefactors,” he said.
The minister Rishi Raj Singh, who took charge as the transport commissioner just before the inauguration of e-payment facility, suggested to deploy maximum officers on field as computerized services will reduce workload on them.
Currently, account holders of SBT and SBI can avail the facility and the transport commissioner said the facility will be thrown open to other bank account holders soon.
KOZHIKODE: The Motor Vehicle Department has embarked on a fresh mission to ensure public participation in curbing traffic rule violations. Public complaint redressal cells have been opened by officials of the department in addition to the official crackdown on erring vehicles across the state.
The new system, introduced following a directive issued by Transport Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh, enables the public to submit grievances online or directly call on the mobile numbers of officials. Besides, proposals for improving road safety may also be submitted to the redressal cells.Citizens may submit complaints directly to the deputy transport commissioner ([email protected]/ 9447218470) or RTO Kozhikode ([email protected]/ 8547639111). The complainant can also directly approach the Transport Commissioner ([email protected]/ 9446033314) if action is not taken in a month’s time.
“It is not possible to curb road rule violations merely by official vigilance. Public participation is a key element in creating awareness on the need for observing road rules,” said Kozhikode RTO Rajeev Puthalath. The new system, complaint redressal cell has already been set up at Kozhikode, he added.
Information on unfit vehicles especially stage carriage vehicles, excess fare charged by auto-taxi drivers, verbal abuse by private bus crew and all sorts of offences can be reported to the complaint cell. Complainants are requested to give specific information regarding the complaint including the registration number of the vehicle, place of occurrence and other details.
Under the new system, each cell will maintain a complaint register to record the complaint, progress of investigation and action taken. At present, we take action on receiving complaints and settle the issues but register books are not maintained in Regional Transport offices, the official said.
The Motor Vehicle Department has also intensified drive against drunken driving and use of mobile phones. Instead of issuing notice and collecting fines, MVD officials have now taken to suspending the licence of persons found using mobile phones while driving. Drunken drivers also get their licence suspended as part of the strict enforcement of road laws.
While, 313 persons have had their licence suspended for drunken driving in Kozhikode city alone in the past one month, the number of persons who had their driving license suspended for using mobile phone crossed 50 last month.
Apart from the formation of complaint redressal cells we have also decided to intensify drive against the misuse of red number plates for vehicles. “We have found that many vehicles used by semi-government organizations and cooperative institutions have been using red boards for their vehicles and action would be initiated against such vehicles,” the RTO said. A drive to nab such automobiles was launched recently and 10 vehicles were fined for using such red boards illegally, during a three day drive that concluded on Friday, the officials said.
The Kochi Corporation’s proposal for a corridor connecting the South railway station and North Town Station in the city is likely to see the light of day, with the Mayor proposing to submit the project details to the state government soon.
Mayor Tony Chammany said that the proposal could be incorporated in the metro rail preparatory works. The much-discussed plan has been included in this year’s Corporation budget. “If we are able to construct a road connecting the North station and the South railway station via the road adjacent to the Ambedkar stadium, it will help decongest the city traffic. Vehicles can be diverted through the North railway station towards the South railway station premises and enter MG Road. We are placing the project proposal with an estimate of Rs 8 crore before the government,” the Mayor said.
The Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry( KCCI) chairman K N Marzook, said that land acquisition may be a hurdle for the implementation of the project. However, if it becomes a reality, it will be a major boon for Kochiites. “There is already an existing road connecting both the North and South Railway stations. The GCDA has agreed to give the land for the project. Widening of the road would require land acquisition,” Marzook said.
However, GCDA Chairman N Venugopal slammed the project, saying that it was not practical. “A large number of families will have to be evicted in the area. The Corporation is yet to rehabilitate the Moolampally Canal evictees. How do they plan to accommodate so many families if the project is to be made a reality,” Venugopal said.
(It could be installed at a control room on mid-way Lonavala, if given the final nod by the state PWD, an MSRDC official said.)
PUNE: An alarming number of mishaps on the 95 km Mumbai-Pune Expressway has prompted the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to consider setting up of a Rs 40 crore surveillance system with automated cameras to capture traffic violations.
The proposed system, worked out by city-based Science and Technology Park (STP), an autonomous institution under central government, could be installed at a control room on mid-way Lonavala, if given the final nod by the state Public Works Department, an MSRDC official said.
Rajendra Jagdale of STP confirmed that the MSRDC had approached the STP for devising an effective traffic surveillance system for the e-way, witnessing an increasing number of accidents due to over-speeding and lane cutting.
He said the system called ” Intelligent Safe Travel” (I-safe-t) will detect traffic offences and relay the data identifying the vehicles to the control room to track the erring drivers.
The data relayed to the control room to be manned by highway police, MSRDC and RTO personnel will include digital pictures of the vehicle, its registration number, location and time of spotting.
Cameras installed on gantries — a bridge like overhead supportive structure — at seven points along the e-way will graphically capture the images of the erring vehicle drivers, who would be penalised by highway police at the toll plazas on either ends of the expressway.
A distinct feature of the system will be the digital display boards giving information and alerts on the traffic conditions and road blocks along the way, as well as featuring and notifying the vehicles involved in traffic violation.
“The system is devised to create a fingerprint of the erring vehicles using their external features to track them down without depending only on number-plates for identification,” said Jagdale.
In addition to the vehicle monitoring to curb the traffic violations, the ” i-safe-t” has also envisaged deployment of security personnel trained to undertake immediate safety measures to rescue accident victims, who can reach the site within five minutes and save precious lives.
“We are processing the STP proposal on ‘i-safe-t’ surveillance system which has been accepted in principle by the MSRDC,” the MSRDC official said.
The e-way, which has cut the travel time between the two mega cities considerably making it approximately a three hour drive, has also been drawing flak for its heavy number of mishaps averaging one every day.
