Amit Jain wrote to me regarding a traffic problem on Kasturba Gandhi marg. He writes, “On KG Marg, at the KG Marg-Ferozshah road crossing there are plastic bollards for dividing the straight traffic and the traffic turning right. The
traffic signal is first straight then right. The placement of the divider is such that barely two cars can go down KG Marg side by side. If there is a bus (and KG Marg is a bus route) then only a single bus can pass through.

“Keeping in view the propensity of Delhi drivers of not driving on their lane and the different variety of vehicles on roads, it causes a traffic snarl especially during office hours when south Delhi traffic is going/returning from work. Many drivers cross the yellow line to go ahead. There is very little traffic turning right. I request you to take this up with the concerned area officers and request them to either remove the bollards or at least re-align them so that the traffic going straight can move easily and smoothly.”

This is a nice suggestion and even I have experienced this. Although using bollard is a very good option of segregating traffic but they do a good job when used on a three-lane road. If used for a two-lane road then something needs to be done, as they are not very successful at it. I strictly feel that on Kasturba Gandhi Marg, cops should be deployed during peak hours at this intersection as well as at the Bus Stop on American Center Library. The traffic movement is affected throughout the day as the blue-line and white line buses stop here for long time thus blocking the road. The effect of this blockage can be felt on the outer circle also as there’s minor jams throughout the day due to this.

I received a rather strange suggestion from US Rana who suggests privatising traffic enforcement in the city. Well, it is simply not possible for the traffic police and the government to do so but since in this platform people can air their views so I am sharing his views with readers. He writes, “Our traffic rules are the best, best on paper. We trip at their enforcement. Maybe, they cannot be enforced for one or the other reason e.g., manpower shortage, interference by the politicians or higher officers, even fear of corruption, seeping into it even more ferociously.

“Having weathered privatisation and globalisation winds, I am emboldened to suggest that enforcement of traffic rules be privatised to start with only as an example through a pilot project. Bids may be invited for it from the public for myriad intersections in Delhi. To start with, I am ready to bid Rs 5,000 for two hours on any working day for the T-junction where O.P. Road and Vasant Marg meet by the side of the Nigerian High Commission. Collection of fines recovered on the spot within a week will be an eye-opener.”

Well, wherever there’s money, corruption will just seep in. Moreover, it will only increase road rage incidents and one will see just brawls on every intersection if it is done. I think traffic cops are doing a fine job but their attention needs to be diverted towards regulating traffic rather than just prosecuting offenders and making the government richer by means of challans. The lower staff of traffic police work overtime to meet the target set by bosses that they don’t get time to regulate traffic at all junctions. I am all for raising the amount of fines which, as of now, are paltry and doesn’t pinch the Delhi driver. If the fine is steep then the Delhiites will think twice before committing an offence. The idea here is to implement traffic rules on the road and not collection of money by prosecuting offenders.

Connaught Place is changing drastically in its landscape as well as traffic flow. Well, if the new traffic plan announced by the New Delhi Municipal Council is enforced lot of people will get hassled as they take short cuts through the inner and middle circle of Connaught Place in order to stay away from traffic congestion on outer circle. I don’t know how well is the decision of a single entry and single exit plan for Connaught Place. But I am sure the traffic cops have to do some thinking if NDMC enforces the new traffic circulation.

NDMC plans to make the entry to Connaught Place from Janpath side and exit towards Baba Kharag Singh marg. As of now the exit for Baba Kharag Singh Marg is a problemy affair. It is due to traffic police’s signal system. The signal for traffic turning right while coming from Inner Circle at Baba Kharag Singh marg intersection turns green simultaneously with traffic entering CP’s outer circle from Baba Kharag Singh Marg. This creates a clash of traffic movement from both sides due to which the dispersal rate on both these intersections is very less.

Currently the other exit points in CP’s inner circle make the dispersal of vehicles easy, but what will happen if there is only one exit point and the dispersal rate at the traffic signal is so slow at Baba Kharag Singh marg intersection. It will be utter chaos and even the inner circle will get choked due to this. The traffic police should immediately do some changes to the traffic signal at this point.

They shouldn’t let the flow of traffic coming from both sides (Baba Kharag Singh side and inner circle side) merge on outer circle of Connnaught Place. The green signal for each flow should be separate so that dispersal is easy and there is less chaos. The problem there is a large number of buses entering CP from Baba Kharag Singh Marg and CP is the only place where buses restrict themselves to the bus lane thus forming a continuous chain. It is almost impossible to turn towards Shivaji Stadium for smaller vehicles entering outer circle from CP’s inner circle, as the buses don’t give you a way. This problem needs an immediate attention of the Traffic Police.

It’s a day of processions today. Almost five processions to be precise! So chaos is bound to happen in Central Delhi as well as the walled city of Delhi.

A sikh procession which has come from Punjab will start a religious procession from Majnu Ka Tila gurudwara near ISBT, Kashmere Gate at 9 am. This procession will end at Gurudwara Sisganj.

The second procession is of Suthre Shah near Hanuman Temple, ISBT. This is an annual procession taken out by his followers and will start at 11 am. There’ll be around 5,000 followers in the procession and will take a long walk within the walled city of Delhi.
Then there are three processions of Baba Ram Dev. Not of Astha channel fame! One procession, which will start at 11 am, is from Nabi Karim and the other two will be taken out in Karol Bagh area. From Saraswati Marg the procession will start at 9 am and the second procession will start from Hathiwala Chawk at 11 am.

Apart from the five processions, there a Dalit rally at Lila grounds, Asaf Ali road from 2 pm to 5 pm. DCP (Traffic/north zone) HPS Virk says, and “According to our estimates around 10,000-12,000 people are expected in the rally, we advise motorists to deviate from their normal routes if they use the above-mentioned roads.”

According to Virk, “Ring Road will be affected today. Traffic movement in entire walled city of Delhi including Chandni Chowk and Subhash Marg, Arya Samaj road, Motia Khan, Qutub road, Rani Jhansi Marg, D.B. Gupta Road and Faiz Road will be affected.”

For the residents and shopkeepers of old Delhi, Metro Rail is a boon for them, as they don’t need to bother about these processions anymore. For Karol Bagh residents and those using New Rohtak Road, they should the Patel Nagar road. For them the Metro is still few months away.

Story with Road Signs (Must Read)

I received a call from Vinayak Kumar Verma, who is a resident of Hari Nagar and has just returned from Boston where he is studying music. He met with an accident and is peeved with the way Delhiites drive and the Traffic cops behave.

He says, “I was standing at South Ex Part II when a scooterist hit me at full speed and I was badly injured. I took the scooterist to the traffic cops and was stunned to see the way they reacted. They very casually told me that ‘it is a normal thing in Delhi and they can’t help me.’ They just asked the name of the company where the scooterist was working and let him go away. The traffic police here needs to be friendly with citizen. When we talk to them they look away. They don’t look at your face when you talk to them. They aren’t attentive and don’t want to help you. The way Delhiites drive and the way traffic is managed, it’s simply madness!”

Generally when I meet people who are coming to India after a long gap, they only whine about the traffic problem in Delhi and most of them are shit scared about driving on Delhi roads. The same roads where they once learnt driving. However, after a stint abroad, they become wiser and their road behaviour becomes excellent. They are so refined drivers that they don’t venture out on the streets of Delhi without a driver.

Most of the foreigners I interview, the first think they remark about Delhi is the traffic scenario and the way Delhi drivers drive. In fact I met Dave Parry once, who is the guy behind the light and sound system and the Buttkicker Bodysonic Dance floor of Elevate at Noida. He is from UK and out of the two hours I spent with him, half an hour conversation was on the traffic scene and Delhi’s errant drivers. He was staying in Moti Bagh and for him driving everyday to Noida was a complete adventure full of stories.

I remember another classmate of mine Lokesh. He stays in Karol Bagh and was born and brought up there only. He was a typical Delhi driver ten years back and was an expert in zig-zag driving. I met him this February once and there’s a sea change in him. He was a guy who never had a habit of walking. Even to go from Khalsa College till SRCC, he used to always take his car. I met him in Karol Bagh market and he was on his way to a bank in Old Rajinder Nagar. I thought as usual he’d take out his car. But I was taken aback when he started a long discourse on the way Delhiites drive and how difficult it is for him now to drive on these roads again. He didn’t forget to remind me of how mad he was the way he used to drive earlier. He preferred walking the entire one-and-a-half kilometre stretch. How I just wish all Delhiites were like Lokesh.

I received a mail from Ankush Bansal who says that; “We had sent a request on July 7 to Jt CP (Traffic) regarding removal of red light and close the cut of the road divider at Sultanpuri crossing on NH-10 in order to ease traffic flow at NH 10 in Nangloi. Still no action has been taken until now.”

According to him the crossing serves no useful purpose on a National Highway. His reasons are -:

1. DTC buses no longer use this cut on the road divider anymore. All bus routes going to and fro from the Sultanpuri road have been closed. Thus this cut serves no purpose now.

2. There is no use of having two traffic signals within 90 metres on a National Highway. One major traffic signal is at the Najafgarh crossing and one small signal is just 90 metres away at Sultanpuri chowk. The Sultanpuri Chowk traffic signal causes unnecessary traffic congestion and thus should be closed.

3. The volume of the traffic on the crossing is very little. Primarily cycle rickshaws, push carts and two-wheelers use the crossing. They dont follow traffic rules and thus contribute towards traffic congestion and also are a danger to the vehicles plying on the National Highway.

4. With the closure of the cut, this traffic can easily use Najafgarh crossing on one side and the U-turn 150 metres down the road on the other side towards Peeragarhi crossing.

5. The closure of the cut will ease traffic congestion at Nangloi and result in better and controlled traffic movement.

The application says, “It is further suggested to close the existing verge near the LCD garbage bin 150 metres from Sultanpuri crossing (towards Peeragarhi) and a broad U-turn may be provided on the Central Verge further 100 metres down in front of Surajmal Stadium where the road is broader. This would smoothen the traffic flow and result in further decongestion of the area.”

Well, Ankush the procedure of closing these cuts and removing signals is a long one and takes a bit of time. I have again forwarded your application to Joint CP (Traffic). The closure of cuts takes political colour also sometimes as the local MLAs and MPs intervene. I remember on New Rohtak Road a cut had to be opened after it was closed since the area residents objected to it and asked their area MLA to intervene on this matter although just a hundred metres away there was another cut. So the cops take all these decisions judiciously and carefully.

I received a mail from MM Lal who writes, “The road leading towards Green park T-point (opposite UPHAAR Cinema) from Siri Fort red light crossing has three to four intersections. One immediately after the redlight of Siri Fort which is one of the entry point to enter GULMOHAR PARK and second one is a left turn towards Hauz Khas and immediately after there is right turn towards Gulmohar enclave/Gulmohar park/Gautam Nagar/Niti Bagh/Uday Park, etc. (This point is a bone of contention) When people negotiate the right turn from this point they simply come on the left hand side of the road which usually creates a traffic jam and I think personally this is the tendency of every body in Delhi that they don’t bother about their lane and simply try to jump the lane and come to the wrong lane which creates a traffic jam.

“The reason behind this jam is that the divider on this road is slightly too short which makes people take a right turn too early. I would suggest that this divider is extended at least five to ten yards more so that people taking right turn do not get into the traffic jam and vice versa the people coming from other side also can take left or right turn without any problem.

“I made this suggestions to the various traffic policemen standing on this intersection but to no avail. I hope this message will be of some help. Generally it is the tendency of every motorist in Delhi to overtake from the wrong side that too with continuos use of pressure horns till they get the side. Although we drive on the left side of the road but we observe the laws as if we drive on the right side of the road. In these circumstances those who want to drive correctly as per the rules of driving look like jokers.

“As per the ruling from the Delhi High Court recently that all the speed breakers should be removed from Delhi Roads. But unfortunately what has happened is that the speed breakers are being removed but what is left behind is a big pit, which is more dangerous than the speed breaker. Moreover, not all the speed breakers have been removed there are some which are still there in the Gulmohar Park area.”

The problem is Delhi drivers drive according to their convenience. They are the ones who will shout at others when they get struck due to some other person’s fault but won’t think twice when they themselves commit traffic offence. I have been constantly advocating that Delhi drivers should imbibe some civility into them. Only then we’ll free flowing traffic. Regarding speed breakers, I think it is temporary and the civic authorities will smoothen it with passage of time.

I received a letter from Sat Paul Arora who is a resident of Ashok Vihar. He writes, “I read the sad state of affairs in Janpath Lane and such things happen in many parts of Delhi. Take for example Ashok Vihar. I wonder sometimes that people sitting at the helm of affairs do not foresee such bottlenecks even in long-term point of view. The planners are not visionary enough. Take for example the entry road to Ashok Vihar from Mont Forte School. Right from Mont Forte School till the school at D block, this road is a mess. All the schools are located on this road and during the morning and afternoon, road gets blocked. Traffic is simply worse here as school buses are parked on both sides of the road. The presence of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, cycle-rickshaws, vans and taxis make this road a deadly zone where mishaps happen frequently. None from Traffic Police goes there to control and regulate traffic here, as jams are a common sight. I just request traffic police to depute traffic personnel to regulate traffic during the opening and closing of the schools to avoid major mishap as without them situation is worse.”

The problem with schools in residential locality is a big problem. I think the traffic police should ask the schools to have staggered timings so that the dispersal of students is in a way, which doesn’t affect the residents.

Meanwhile, long time back Avinash Rajput had given a traffic suggestion to either remove median/partition or provide speed breaker or yellow line on both sides of the Shakurbasti overhead Railway Bridge in between Britannia and Punjabi Bagh Flyovers. He sent me a mail again saying, “This hasn’t been done although the traffic inspector met me and took the suggestion from me. This was covered by you last year in July. I just request the traffic police to do something about it.” I just hope the traffic cops help resolve this issue.

I received a mail from Roy Manohar who writes, “It was nice to read your article on suggestion that road safety to be taught to kids. I would like to elaborate a bit more on this subject and I hope this would be read by some of the big brass our esteemed police force.

“Taking a positive view of the traffic situation, I would recommend the Traffic Department organize a Traffic Awareness Month. This method is adopted in foreign countries. During this whole month, police force is deployed in most of the signals and behaves very friendly.

“They inform the offenders very politely on the mistakes that are done and give them necessary inputs how to avoid them in the future.

“Adding a bit more activity during this awareness month, I would like to put a few more things that they can follow:
1. TV media can be used to graphically depict the traffic rules
2. Schools/Institutes to be provided with lectures and demonstrations of how to stick to disciplined traffic regulations. Also, teach how students can be morals to their parents by asking their parents to follow traffic rules.
School bus drivers (who are the frequent rule breakers) to be advised how they should be an example to the students who travel in their vehicles.
3. All Govt and Private companies or organizations need to be educated on traffic rules by giving lectures and demonstrations. Respective companies HRD department should be given all information to emphasize strict discipline by their employees (including their big bosses).

“Once, this is completed, the cops can go on spree of catching the offenders. But, all well said and done, unless the very basic attitude of our fellow citizens is changed by their internal conscience, it is very difficult.”

I fully agree with you Manohar regarding educating people with basic traffic rules. The Delhi Traffic Police does celebrate Road Safety Week, but your suggestion regarding celebrating Traffic Awareness Month is good. I think for one month the cops should go on a drive to teach all road users including the pedestrians to follow traffic rules and the rest eleven months go on filling up Home Ministry’s coffers without any guilt feeling. I also would like to add that the transport department should be very strict in issuing driving licence. The schools should encourage in teaching children traffic awareness. They should have books on traffic education in the library. One of the few books available in the market is “Safe Driving” by Hubert Ebner (011-30961359-60). This is the best available manual on traffic and rules of the road. Regarding understanding rules of transport department, the best book is “The Perfect Motoring” by Anil Chhikara (Published by Satya Prakashan – 25725679/25720653).

Rajnish Singh mailed me. He says, “I have been reading your column with great interest for the last so many months, appreciating the fact that there is at least one newspaper which is pin-pointing the concern of the common man and the road shows.

“Further to your article of August 11, I indeed agree with Harpreet Gill and would like to point out a very simple fact which we all see, ignore and move on. I am not talking about the biggest (albeit in relative terms) follies committed by biggies but by the law enforcers themselves. Have you ever noticed the PCR Vans, which are plying on the roads with the drivers and co-drivers on the front seats without bothering to wear their seat belts? I can challenge anybody if he/she can bring me a photograph of one of them following the rule of wearing the seat belt. Leave apart the drivers; even the seniors occupying the front seat do not bother to use their seat belts. Same goes with the vehicles from Defence. Their occupants feel it is their prerogative to decide and that they can easily get away with these violations and in fact they do.

“The reason for pointing out is that the law enforcers need to practice what they preach. If they have joined the forces, they should serve without any fear or personal motives. This is precisely the reason why our country can never progress at the pace, which we should in fact do. You mentioned about one transfer - imagine if all the cops on the road start behaving strictly, how many transfers would be there? This inappropriate means of punishing the right and honest will immediately stop.

“Though I have very little hope that we are likely to see the situation improve in our country (at least in the near future), I once again appreciate your efforts in bringing the issues to the notice of all.”

I agree with your views but I have noticed that most officers from traffic police make it a point to wear belts and obey rules. On the contrary, most of the Traffic Inspectors don’t wear seat belts while travelling. I think they should be the one to lead the way and show the way to the rest of police force by obeying rules. There is one Traffic Inspector who is so particular about following rules that he has even bought a small helmet for his three-year-old son. And whenever he rides his bike, he ensures that his son wears the helmet. He says, “Traffic education should be given right from childhood so that when my son grows up, obeying traffic rules will be in his blood and he would never flout them.” I just wish the rest of the force also thinks the same.

I received a mail from Avinash Rajput who writes, “I have been passing through the T-point at Agrasen Road, Pitampura and have been observing road accidents regularly at the aforesaid point. Lot of accidents happen here and no traffic policeman is posted at this T-point on Agrasen Road, Pitampura. In this way people do not care for traffic rules while crossing at this point.

“I met with an accident on August 1, 2005 while I was driving my scooter (DL 8S J 3960) on the particular road and sustained multiple injuries when a car (DL 1C B 7803) which was driven by the owner/driver rashly, negligently and at a very fast speed hit me and ran away. An FIR No. 647 dated 3.8.2005 under Sections 279/337 IPC PS Shalimar Bagh was lodged by me and the Police Post, Pitampura has neither tracked the said offending vehicle nor the driver/owner till date.

“May I therefore, request the Delhi Traffic Police to depute some traffic cop at the aforesaid point or provide traffic signals to avoid any future accident.”

A few months back I received a similar complaint by a lady whose aunt was severely injured in a hit-and-run case at the same location. At that time she was battling for life in Safdarjung Hospital. Actually her relatives wanted my help in tracing the vehicle. But I was helpless in helping them as none had noted the number. Actually there are lot of spots in Delhi where a traffic constable is not required to regulate traffic but his presence is required only to check the speeding vehicles. I think traffic police should earmark these spots and deploy constables so as to check such speeding vehicles. It will do a lot good to check such accidents.

I received a mail from Avinash Rajput who writes, “I have been passing through the T-point at Agrasen Road, Pitampura and have been observing road accidents regularly at the aforesaid point. Lot of accidents happen here and no traffic policeman is posted at this T-point on Agrasen Road, Pitampura. In this way people do not care for traffic rules while crossing at this point.

“I met with an accident on August 1, 2005 while I was driving my scooter (DL 8S J 3960) on the particular road and sustained multiple injuries when a car (DL 1C B 7803) which was driven by the owner/driver rashly, negligently and at a very fast speed hit me and ran away. An FIR No. 647 dated 3.8.2005 under Sections 279/337 IPC PS Shalimar Bagh was lodged by me and the Police Post, Pitampura has neither tracked the said offending vehicle nor the driver/owner till date.

“May I therefore, request the Delhi Traffic Police to depute some traffic cop at the aforesaid point or provide traffic signals to avoid any future accident.”

A few months back I received a similar complaint by a lady whose aunt was severely injured in a hit-and-run case at the same location. At that time she was battling for life in Safdarjung Hospital. Actually her relatives wanted my help in tracing the vehicle. But I was helpless in helping them as none had noted the number. Actually there are lot of spots in Delhi where a traffic constable is not required to regulate traffic but his presence is required only to check the speeding vehicles. I think traffic police should earmark these spots and deploy constables so as to check such speeding vehicles. It will do a lot good to check such accidents.

I received a mail from Harpreet Gill who has raised a very pertinent point regarding Kanwariya movement in the city. Although it is a bit late but I strongly feel something should be done to avert all kind of inconvenience to road users in Delhi next year. He writes, “Read your article on the Kanwariyas. I have a question to ask; do you really think that these political big wigs would allow the Delhi Police do anything. It is their vote bank. Votes in the name of religion! Even if the Police would want to control these political leaders will not let it happen.

“Things will be worst next year. Secondly read the figures of Delhi Police about the challaning of the motorists about the dark films. How many Political Leaders have they challaned? Any figures? I bet none and what about the official cars used by the IAS, IPS, Defence personnal etc, has anyone challened them or the traffic police has no guts to do it, they can only stop common man and prosecute them and then show figures to the press to come into the limelight to impress there superiors.

“They should start with their own vehicles. You for yourself see on the Delhi roads how many police vehicles have dark tinted glasses. Leave aside the political leaders and there chamchas. Well I guess someday things will change with efforts from people like you. I wish you all the very best on the good job done because I am sure it does affect the authorities.”

Well, I really want Delhiites to think and raise their voices about Kanwariya issue next year. The problem is they don’t even walk on the dedicated path that was made by cops on NH 8. They want to walk on the middle of the road. It was an accident that I saw on NH8 that prompted me to write about the issue of Kanwariyas in my column. Actually while on my way to Gurgaon, I saw a collision between a scooterist and a Kanwariya. An accident which could have been easily avoided had he been walking on the designated lane. Instead, he had decided to walk on the main road and not on the barricaded lane and it was dark. None could help it. Regarding the challaning of police vehicles, well, I would say “No Comment”.

Just few months back a sub inspector challaned a private vehicle of a Deputy Commissioner of Police and guess what? Poor soul got transferred! Now you can imagine the fruits of challaning biggies.

S.M. Hussain has responded to US Rana’s suggestion carried in my column on Monday. He writes, “I read with keen interest Mr. Rana's suggestion for strict implementation of traffic laws. I think it is impossible to implement any law in any country unless people abide by it and cooperate. It is impossible to post traffic police everywhere to enforce rules. Basically, we have to inculcate the habit of obeying traffic rules among children.

“Parents and teachers play a major role in this regard. The Delhi Government should make it compulsory to teach traffic rules in all private and public schools in Delhi. Schools have physical and moral education periods, library periods, hobby classes etc., once in a week. But unfortunately, no time is devoted to teach traffic rules.

“Schools undertake excursions and educational trips to far away places. But they hesitate to send their students to learn traffic rules at Traffic Training Parks run by the Delhi Police because of lack of infrastructure or time. Delhi Traffic Police should have regular visits to schools to teach children in their formative years to respect traffic laws. After all, these kids grow up to obey rules and regulations.

“Some parents feel proud when they see their fifth standard child make an attempt to drive a car. They encourage the children to learn driving at an early age. There are many cases where the parents get fake driving licences from other states for their school going kids. These kids are responsible for rash and negligent driving and accidents. The police should prosecute any student driving a vehicle in school uniform because he is under-aged.

“Parents strictly prohibit children to drive vehicles below eighteen years old. Media can also play a very important role by regularly featuring programmes on safe driving. Unless people make a pledge on this Independence Day not to drive fast, rash or over-take the other vehicles from wrong-side, not to park in no parking zones, jump red-lights, stop dangerous driving, respect the fellow drivers and religiously follow traffic rules any amount of book rules won’t help to curb accidents.”

Long time back I had written about the same thing in my column. I was once speaking to K.S. Bedi, a retired ACP from the road safety cell of traffic police. He told me that they do a lot of lectures regarding road etiquettes in schools, but he feels that until and unless it is not made a permanent subject at the primary school level, these lectures don’t help that much. I too feel strongly for it and wish road safety were being taught as a subject at the Primary school level.

I received a fax from U.S. Rana, a resident of Vasant Vihar and and one of the senior members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club. He has a piece of advice for the Ministry of Home Affairs. He writes, “We need a full time Commissioner of Police (Traffic) for the National Capital Region of Delhi and who else but Kiran Bedi is perfect for the job. The only ‘Kiran’ of hope for the hopeless traffic in Delhi is still around somewhere. She can bring some discipline in Delhi drivers. Let us get her back before it is too late.”

A noble suggestion but let’s see whether the MHA will listen to the plea. However, there’s some development in Delhi Traffic Police right now. Former high profile DCP (Traffic) M.S. Upadhaye has been shifted to Delhi now from Arunachal Pradesh and Commissioner K.K. Paul is keen on making him the Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic). This post is a newly created one.

Rana further writes, “We have the best and perhaps the largest number of Rules and Laws about traffic and safety on the road. However, the road users don’t follow them and the cops don’t enforce the law completely. They prosecute selectively. The government-owned white ambassador cars are never challaned. Something should be done regarding this.”

Dear Mr Rana, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmed has issued strict instructions now to the traffic cops regarding prosecuting vehicles. He has directed the traffic policemen to ensure that vehicles carrying Applied For (A/F) or temporary registration numbers do not go scot-free and are prosecuted. These vehicles can even be impounded as per law.

In view of the forthcoming Independence Day activities and ceremonies, the Delhi Traffic Police will now be focusing its attention against triple riding on two wheelers, over speeding by all types of vehicles and checking of documents of the vehicles.

He has also directed the traffic cops to check the authenticity of the labels put on the windscreens or the body of the vehicles. It has been found that many vehicles have been displaying various types of stickers on their vehicles e.g. Doctors, Lawyers, Journalists, Police etc to communicate to various sections of society, including the Traffic policemen that these people are above law. Those found misusing any sticker will be dealt with under the various provisions of law and handed over to local police, if need be for initiating legal action.

So dear Delhiites be on your guard!

It’s just a matter of one more day and traffic woes will be over. Tomorrow (Friday) will be the last day and then you don’t have to bother much about Kanwariyas. You can drive around freely in Delhi. Otherwise they are such a terror in the name of religion. It looks to me more of a fashion statement rather then religious sentiments. Otherwise one won’t see hockey sticks in the hands of people accompanying Kanwariyas managing traffic. At least in Delhi the cops should check them. Those people look more of goons rather than devotees. I saw one of those self-proclaimed saffron-clad minders on the road on Tuesday in south Delhi.

There was only one car, which was carrying the holy water and rest of the guys were dancing ahead. They already had occupied one whole lane. These guys carrying hockey sticks and hurling it at vehicles plying on the road occupied the other lane. They were walking on the main road as if they were the kings of the road and didn‘t even hesitate banging the sticks to the buses, which came close to the group. Because of them only one lane was left for vehicles to ply. And considering it was happening during evening peak hours, there was utmost chaos on the road. Obviously cops were watching the melee as mute spectators as they also cannot raise a finger at them.

I think cops should learn some lessons from this and draft a proper code of conduct for these Kanwariyas. And next year when they have meeting with Kanwar association of Delhi for the arrangement, they should give it to the organisers and ask them to ensure discipline on roads. This is the only way out otherwise we Delhiites will only remain mute spectators to this barbaric attitude on Delhi roads.

Meanwhile, action on tinted glasses continues. According to Delhi Traffic Police’s press release, “Dark film used by motorist on the window screen and windowpanes of their vehicles have remained the focus of Delhi Traffic Police for the last two weeks. Over 9,535 motorists have been prosecuted out of which films of more than 5,885 have been removed during the last week alone. So far about 37,399 motorists have been prosecuted this year for using dark films on their vehicles.

Rajinder Arora mailed me telling the pathetic state of affairs at Janpath Lane. He says,“As a regular reader of TODAY, I have often read your column about the pathetic state of traffic in our city and equally callous and indifferent attitude of motorists and vehicle owners - large number of whom happen to be educated people. Through your column I wish you drew the attention of authorities towards a hellhole called the entry to Janpath Lane. You may not be very familiar with this not-so-famous road/lane that runs parallel to main Janpath from behind the Indian Oil Building right up to the end of Janpath Hotel (rear exit). The point of entry I am mentioning here is from next to the Yatri Niwas Hotel on Ashok Road roundabout.

“As you enter Janpath Lane at this point, on your left are six shops of the local shopping centre, facing which is a Mother Dairy booth, next to which is (so claimed) authorised taxi stand of yellow top taxis. This is a point of entry for all those working at Hotel Asian International, Janpath Hotel, Thapar House, part of Kerala House and almost entire work force of Imperial Hotel.

“This entry point has become a free parking lot for all the DLY and DLZ cars of the surrounding areas, Auto's whose drivers find it an easy niche to have their cuppa, white ambassador cars of the various officials of government of India - whose drivers come here for their brunch or a nap. Unmindful of the vehicles that have to cross this stretch - all these vehicles park themselves on both sides virtually leaving just enough space for one car to pass at a time. The trucks of cold-drink companies, bottled water dispensers and tempo loads of vegetables and groceries throw in their lot too, to add up to the chaos.

“The shops here have extended their wares on the road upto 6-8 feet; while the pan wallah, the barber, the newspaper stand, the ice cream cart and the even a roadside bone doctor-cum-masseur have appropriated their spaces. On the other side where the Lane meets the Ashok Road, a row of Auto Rickshaws comfortably park themselves at the bend making that turning very dangerous and a blocking point.

“This Lane, at its farthest end would not be more than 500 meters from the head-quarters of NDMC and the main Parliament Police Station and one wonders - do all these officers who pass this place day-after-day go by here blind-folded. The worst is when one or more PCR vehicles also come in and park themselves here for tea break; as if throwing their weight with the rogues around.

“P.S. The other claim-to-fame this lane has is that of being the vantage point from where an old-lady was witness to the barbaric Tandoor Kand.”

It’s a multi-layered problem. Since it’s a service lane so hotel guys will use it. You can’t stop them. Then the taxi drivers find a nice haven to park their vehicles, as there is no halting space for them. The halt and go policy will only come into force once the new taxi policy comes in. Since there are so many vehicles parked on that lane, tea shops, etc are doing a brisk business. Now role of local cops and NDMC officials, too come into play here. They get their cut from these small shops on pavements. As far as traffic police is concerned, they are too busy managing the traffic of the main arterial roads of Connaught Place. Vehicle population has grown by leaps and bounds; I don’t know what will happen in the next six years. It will only make the condition worse. The only thing that we can do is adjust to the conditions. To tell you frankly I have to sometimes struggle to enter my own house. There’s an office in my basement and the bikes and scooters of those employees block are parked in such a way that they block the whole entry. One can do little about them. I can agree that one struggles to find a parking space for cars, but for bikes, there is ample of space provided around my lane. But it’s a matter of convenience for these people and they want their bikes parked right in front of the gate. It’s just the matter of proper civic sense, but some ain’t have them.

I received a mail from Subhash Mehta who says, “I retired as an engineer from Delhi Vidyut Board in the year 2001after about 35 years of service. I am 64 years old now. I have been driving two wheelers since 1989 in Delhi. I had a Delhi driving licence, which was issued to me by Transport Authority, Rajpur Road in the year 1989. I lost my driving licence somewhere and I forgot to retain copy of the same. I tried my level best to get it traced from the Transport Authority office but all in vain. Then I decided to apply afresh for the licence. When I went to get a Learner’s licence from Ashok Vihar Transport Authority office they refused to issue me the same on medical grounds since I had a little limp in my right leg. I asked for the way I could get my driving licence but they flatly refused to guide even. Can you help me for issue of a driving licence?”

Well, I understand your situation but I am extremely helpless. Until and unless you get a medical certificate clearance you won’t be given a fresh licence. And Delhi is very strict with issuing driving licenses. I know lot of people can drive with some medical deformities but rules are rules and cannot be broken.

Few days back I mentioned in my column SM Hussain’s letter regarding the rotary at Mehrauli-Badarpur road, which has now been converted into a traffic intersection. Hussain had said that the traffic police haven’t installed the traffic signals. I received a reply from Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmed saying, “This rotary on Mehrauli - Badarpur Road was converted into an intersection on the initiative of Delhi Traffic Police. The process of installation of a traffic signal at this intersection is also on.” I hope the signals are installed soon so as to give some relief to traffic there.

The Delhi Traffic Police is busy catching motorists driving vehicles having tinted glasses on rear and side windows. Until 28 July the cops have prosecuted a total of 31,196 motorists for using dark glasses.

On July 26, 27 and 28, they prosecuted 3,886 motorists for having tinted films on the rear and side window screens in their vehicles. The cops even got removed films from 2,640 vehicles during those days.

According to a Delhi Traffic Police release, “It is reiterated that window screens of the motor vehicles should be absolutely transparent. Delhi Traffic Police will continue this drive against such vehicles having dark/black/reflective films and get them removed, besides prosecution at the spot.”

In fact Ajit from Noida called me to ask whether there is any complaint number of Delhi Traffic Police where one could lodge a complaint of any traffic offenses. He was specific about reporting about vehicles using tinted glasses. I spoke to Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmed and he said that one could always call the 24-hour Traffic Help line number 23378888 and lodge a complaint there.

So next time you see a car having tinted glasses you can always call the Delhi Traffic Police help line number to register a complaint.

I received a mail from SM Hussain who writes, “The round-about at Pul Pahladpur near Suraj Apartments and opposite to the Railway Reservation Office, has been demolished a couple of months back to ease traffic congestion. So far no action has been taken by the authorities to fix traffic signals in its place. As a result of this heavy traffic jams and accidents are happening day in and day out.

“With no signals, vehicles move in all directions without any traffic police manning them. Continuing with 'round-abouts', there was a time, Delhi had maximum number of them instead of traffic-signals. These round-abouts look beautiful with shrubs, green grass, fountains etc., and add beauty to the city roads. Some of the well maintained round-abouts are still found in the diplomatic area (Chankyapuri) and opposite to the Teen Murti Bhawan where the density of traffic is relatively less. But with the increase in traffic, these round-abouts have become redundant and they have been replaced with traffic signals for smooth flow of traffic.

“Multiplicity of authorities like Delhi Police, MCD, CPWD, Road Research Organisation etc., are involved in removing round-abouts and replacing them with traffic signals. Traffic is going to increase many-fold in coming years and traffic jams are going to become a daily routine especially during peak hours if these round-abouts are not replaced with proper traffic signals.”

Even in Chandigarh, some of the beautiful roundabouts have given way to traffic signals. But only at places where there is a heavy movement of traffic. However, in Delhi too few rotaries were changed into traffic signals. But personally I feel that rotaries do a good job provided the traffic police man it. The problem is lot of Delhi drivers don’t follow the traffic rules. Hence jams occur.

According to Delhi Traffic Police, the general principles for the 'right of way' in the Traffic system followed in India are:-
(i) The vehicle on one's right side gets the priority.
(ii) The vehicle on the main road gets priority over the vehicle entering from a side road and
(iii) The vehicle already on the rotary gets priority over the vehicle entering the rotary.

At each roundabout the right of way is that of the vehicles which is already in the roundabout and the vehicle, which is yet to enter must come to a halt, give way to traffic on its right which is already in the roundabout and then only proceed to enter.
I hope if everybody follows this norm, one would have a smoother flow of traffic in the roundabouts.

Recently, the Delhi government released its statistical handbook and according to it in Delhi there are 42,36,675 registered vehicles in 2003-2004. According to it there were 39,70,870 registered vehicles in 2002-03. Which means 2,65,805 vehicles were added in 365 days and on an average 728 vehicles are added every day. I think I am in a wrong business. Should have been an automobile dealer.

Anyways, let’s get down to business now. I received a mail from Harsh Baluja. He is a resident of New Moti Nagar and is facing traffic problems. Actually one of the most harassed lot are residents of Moti nagar area, as due to the Metro construction, they are facing lot of problems.

He writes, “I am residing in New Moti Nagar area of West Delhi and would like to draw your kind attention to the increasing traffic congestion and vehicular movement in this residential area caused by auto dealers and outside vehicles.

“Around 2-3 years back, this auto market was active only on the main road & around Milan Cinema and Karam Pura Commercial Complex. Now they have started encroaching into residential blocks and almost all entry points are blocked by them.

“The worst part is, they are also doing maintenance, test-drive, denting, painting & spray work, which is not only causing air pollution but also may lead to various health hazards. Every time they are marching into the residential area making noise pollution & spreading smoke. These residential houses are now being converted into Auto Showrooms & Maintenance Centres, thus, parking their commercial vehicles on main passage & in front of houses, causing road block & traffic congestion.

“The outside vehicles are also using now colony roads for reaching Karam Pura Commercial Complex instead of main passage road, which is resulting into massive traffic jams, earlier all vehicles were taking the road adjacent to Fire Brigade & HIL Colony.

“To curb this traffic mess, I take this liberty to suggest following steps:
1. Restrict entry of outside vehicles by placing barriers & gates at all entry points.
2. Restrict auto dealers & auto service centres, not to use colony roads for any kind of repair, maintenance & test drive of autos.
3. Allow only one entry point for vehicles going to commercial complex through Milan Cinema road.”

I think the suggestions are good and can be easily implemented. These roadside automobile mechanics inside colonies are a real menace. I have forwarded the suggestions to the concerned authority. I hope they implement it soon.

B.S. Sodhi sent me a fax after reading my previous column on Kanwariyas. He is miffed by the fact that Kanwariyas are given priority on Delhi roads. He says, “It is high time that a PIL is filed in Supreme Court for all the inconvenience they (All other such “religious” activities) cause and the hooliganism perpetrated on the public. Imagine Delhi-Hardwar highway being closed for traffic. Highways are the arteries of the nation.”

I agree with you. This time too the Delhi-Hardwar National Highway is closed to vehicular traffic from Monday till August 3 to ensure smooth movement of Kanwariyas. According to a news agency report, Vehicular traffic plying from Delhi to Dehradun, Rishikesh and Hardwar has been diverted to alternative routes from Monday.

I think what best can be done is to make a kind of makeshift parallel route for them. At least keep the national highways open for vehicular traffic. Instead they can use the alternate routes for Kanwariyas. However, this won’t happen, as people want to take political mileage out of it. Moreover, when religious matters come, nobody wants to poke their fingers in it. Only our courts can do such an act of bravery.

Meanwhile, Sodhi also writes that, “Your photographers show only the vehicles violating traffic rules, jumping road dividers but never their number plates. It will make it easy for traffic police to prosecute them. Why can’t the road dividers be made taller, let’s say at least two feet high making them impossible to cross over.”

Actually our photographers try their best to get the number plates also but sometimes action happens so fast that they miss it. The fact that they shoot such pictures is a big thing as these things happen instantaneously.

I received a mail from Arjun Sahgal who writes, “I am running a departmental store by the name of THE EXCHANGE STORES in the Civil Lines area of north Delhi. There is a major traffic problem in this area adjoining the Civil Lines Metro station. The parking in front of the building has been acquired by metro for a bus stop. Due to this the cars coming to our stores have to park on the main road. The Delhi Traffic Police cranes just tow away the vehicles without considering the problem.

“On top of this a NO-PARKING board has been erected due to which people are in constant fear of their cars being towed away. I would request the Delhi Traffic Police not to enforce the NO-PARKING zone in this area, as there is also a PNB branch in this building, which people frequent regularly. A solution has to be found to the problem instead of the vehicles being unnecessarily towed away and people having to cough out their hard-earned money for no fault of theirs. The Traffic Police must co-ordinate with the concerned authorities and look into the matter at the earliest.”

I had previously also received a complaint regarding this from a bank account holder whose car was towed away three times. Well, I spoke to HPS Virk, DCP (Traffic/North Range) and he said, “After the Metro, the traffic pattern of the area has changed so visitors to the market should now park their vehicles in the nearest available parking space.”

Frankly speaking one cannot expect to enjoy the benefits of old times and new. With changing time one has to adapt new conditions and get used to it. It’s just that initially one would face inconvenience, after one gets used to it, then it becomes a routine affair.

The season of Kanwariyas is here so Delhi drivers should pull their socks up and learn to drive slow and cautiously now for the next 15 days starting from July 22. The Kanwariyas carrying holy water from the Ganges in Haridwar walk to their respective villages in hordes continuously from Purnima to Amavasya, which is on July 5. So you need to be extremely careful while driving on certain routes.

Usually they enter from Apsara border and through Shahadara, they walk straight towards ISBT and through Boulevard road they take Rani Jhansi Marg and then through Ridge Road they enter NH8. For Kanwariyas going towars Karnal, they turn right towards Wazirabad and then through GT Karnal Road they leave Delhi. The third route is for Kanwariyas going towards Faridabad. They usually take the Ring Road and then take a left from Ashram and go towards Badarpur Border. For Kanwariyas going towards Rohtak, they breakway from New Rohtak Road in Karol Bagh and then go towards Tigri border through the Rohtak Road.

On all three routes the most vital intersection for them is the Dhaula Kuan intersection. With the opening of the grade separator and free flowing traffic there, this year it will be little bit difficult for Kanwariyas here. So all of you passing through Dhaula Kuan should take extra care while passing through it during this time. The traffic police wanted to change their route this year, as they never wanted Kanwariyas to pass through the busy Dhaula Kuan grade separator, sadly the Kanwariya committee has refused pay heed to their advise.

So I again warn you guys to be careful on road, because the crowd turns unruly if there’s a collision between a vehicle and a Kanwariya. There have been few instances in the past where they overturned cars that touched a Kanwariya. These instances are common on the New Rohtak Road so west-bound traffic, Beware!

Karan Aggarwal mailed me talking about a parking problem opposite his house. He writes, “Since the last six-seven months we the residents of D-block, East of Kailash are facing problems due to commercial and private vehicles like cars, truck, water tankers, etc. parking illegally opposite our houses. Also there are more than 10 vehicles parked on the pavement where the pedestrians have to walk. Due to parking of vehicles on the two-lane road there is no smooth flow of traffic.

“We have complained a lot of times to the traffic police but no action has been taken as of now. They say they are busy in doing VIP movements in the south Delhi area everyday; some time PM or some time the CM as per the Lajpat Nagar circle zonal officer Mr. Raj Singh. PM and CM do not use our road therefore police does not seem to take any action in the area. They are only for VIP not for the public. I would request to you if you could help us in getting the vehicles removed from the area and help in making the pavement a walking space not illegal parking space.”

I have used the above-mentioned road for about three years when I was staying in that area. First of all from my experience traffic isn’t that heavy on this road. Actually there are lot of official complexes in the area and people working here are short of space to park their vehicles. So they have no option but to get down and park their cars on the above-mentioned stretch. Moreover, there is lot of space to park there and from the pictures you have sent me, even after the vehicles parked there, pedestrians won’t face any problem. Apart from this, that pedestrian path is just for namesake. The authorities didn’t have pedestrians in mind when they made this as the electric poles rather than cars block their way.

As good and considerate Delhiites, we should now start adjusting to situations. Until and unless these guys create a nuisance value in your area by drinking inside the car, etc. I think you should also co-operate. If these guys park in front of your houses or your driveway, then they can be penalised and then your objection is valid but if the institute whose boundary we can see has no objections, then what’s the problem?

There’s crunch for parking space throughout the city. So the best mantra is adjust to the conditions and be considerate. It will only grow worse in future!

DMRC’s yellow line has brought in a revolution of all sorts in Delhi. Never in my life had I seen Connaught Place so full of life on a Sunday evening and that too when most of the shops are closed. The metro rail has put life back in Delhi’s heart Connaught Place and Delhi University’s Mall Road. Normally Mall Road on a Sunday evening used to be too dull with few students of Mansarovar hostel of International Students Home frequenting roadside chai shops to drink tea in the evening. But now dramatic changes have happened due to Metro. The Delhi University metro station is so crowded as if a Diwali Mela is in progress.

Roadside hawkers are new addition to this place. The cycle rickshaws on Sundays in this area were too difficult to find but now they are aplenty here. Life I thing for North campus area has changed drastically.

I went with a childhood friend to Delhi University in Metro on Sunday. My friend is a software engineer and has used Metro rail in Beijing, Korea and New York. He was stunned to see Delhi’s metro. According to him the coaches are the best. “Korean coaches are nowhere in comparison to Delhi’s”, was his statement. He just recently shifted from Bangalore and now he feels that it is for good that he got transferred here. Earlier he used to whine that he couldn’t ride a bicycle in Delhi as he used to do it in Bangalore and has all praises for the city. However, now he has started loving Delhi as he feels that it is catching up with the other big cities of the world.

P.S.: I would advise the DMRC to open more counters for selling tickets, etc. in Connaught Place as it was so crowded that it took me 25 minutes to reach the platform after entering CP metro station.

Rakesh Virwar wrote to me about the controversial topic of speed limit in Delhi, the much-debated topic, which cropped up last year but nothing as such happened. He says, “We all know that Speed limit for light vehicles is 50 KMPH and for heavy vehicles 40 KMPH. But over the period of time Delhi Roads have seen mammoth change and the general speed of traffic has increased.

“Many times you have to drive at speeds higher than limits just to keep pace with the traffic. Else people going at lower speed become a hindrance to the traffic.

“I was recently challaned for driving at 60 KMPH on Gurgaon - Dwarka, so were other unlucky drivers. While the lucky ones escaped, as the policemen could not manage to stop all. Only this time I was unlucky, I have been seeing many others being unlucky when the Police place their Speed measuring units just before a curve and place barricade just a hundreds meter. Since the general traffic is at high speed everybody falls into the trap.

“This is an easy way for Traffic police to meet their challan targets. But when would the government wake up and allow us to legally drive at speeds that are safe and suffice to traffic requirements. Even the highways displays the Speed Limits of 50/40 but we all must have hit 80 - 100 on good stretches.

“Anupam would be great if you can look at what's the legal back ground on this and how can we generate a public support for higher speeds for good roads. I am conscious of dangers of high speeds but 60/70 speed is not that dangerous and with improved quality of motors hitting Indian roads they are easily manageable.”

Even I felt the same when I was once challaned for driving at a speed of 62 kmph on the Ring Road and one of my colleague challaned for driving 72 kmph at the Ridge Road and that too on a descend.

After these two challans, I make sure to drive at 50 kmph, but then people behind me make it sure not to let me drive in peace. They keep on honking and after they have overtaken me, they even don’t resist shouting expletives. Driving within the speed limits in an empty road certainly draws everybody’s ire. But still I feel on the main arterial roads, the speed limits should be 50 kmph only. As even if one is caught driving at 55kmph, the cops let you go. Above 55 kph is a problem.

But definitely in the Ring Road, which now is to a lot of extent a signal free road, the speed limit should be raised to 65kmph otherwise there’s no point in making a signal-free road. The purpose itself will get defeated.

Regarding the highways, one just notices the signage, which shows the speed limit of vehicles but there are signages on the highways where there’s another signage, which tells you that the speed limit ends. So next time you hit the highways, check that sign board too!

The city is in a deluge and I one can see the traffic snarls on the road while its raining. Moreover, every time rain lashes the city, one comes to know that the drains are choked, as water logging is a common site in Delhi and a cause for massive traffic jams. The worst affected are the auto-rickshaws and two-wheeler guys during rainy season. So when it rains, it’s always better to be a couch-potato, rather going out.

For those who still have the guts to venture out on roads, here’s a check list before you hit the roads.

* Drive at speeds appropriate for conditions.
* Use extra care as you travel during rain.
* Since the road becomes slippery when it rains, allow extra distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.
* Refrain from travelling too close to large vehicles to avoid the water spray of their tyres.
* Make sure the lights and wipers on your vehicle are working properly.
* Use your inside defrosters to keep windows clear. If you don't have defrosters, you can switch on your AC or roll down bit of windows.
* If you cross a water patch, it will affect your brakes. So when you feel that brakes are slipping, press the brake pedal for sometime even when you are driving.
* And while crossing a waterlogged patch, just make sure you use a heavy gear and drive at a constant speed.

Another important factor during rains is being seen or noticed on road for both pedestrians as well as vehicle drivers.

If you aren't easily visible to others it creates all sorts of safety problems, which can put your life and others at risk. For instance, vehicles are more likely to pull out in front of you or turn right across your path at intersections.

Pedestrians, particularly those with failing or poor eyesight, are more likely to step into your path. Torrential rain creates a fog like environment, which can make any vehicle virtually invisible. Think carefully about how visible you are to others and follow these simple tips, which could save your life:

> BE SEEN - use your dipped headlights to make your car more visible to others (even in daylight they improve your safety).
> Keep your lights and indicators clean and in good working condition at all times.
> Make sure that your windscreen and windows are clean and clear, and that your washer systems have water in them.
> Reduce speed in bad weather or when visibility is poor.
>Watch out for pedestrians who may not have seen you.
Stay safe, and above all be careful, courteous, and considerate when using the roads.

My licence is about to expire now and since I am unable to go back to Shimla to renew it so I decided to make my driving licence from Delhi itself. However, I was a bit jittery going to the authority and getting my work done. As all my fourth estate fraternity guys, I too decided to pull strings and get my licence as going by normal procedures meant that I would waste the entire day running helter skelter from one window to another before ending up getting a learner’s licence.

Well if the word ‘learner’ is itching you, then according to the rule, if applying for a fresh driving licence, one must possess a learner’s licence for at least a month before one gets a permanent driving licence. However, I was uneasy going there as about a-year-and-half back I went to transport authority Janakpuri and I had narrated that incident in two columns of road show and I had decided that never in my life I would go to a transport authority. The only positive thing at Janakpuri TA was the Motor Licensing Officer of Janakpuri S.K. Mishra who was such a docile guy and heeded to everybody’s request and listened everybody patiently. Normally any other guy would become cranky if he had been sitting in his seat for even seven days.

Well, those were the days when touts used to operate openly. However, the reform that was started by former Transport Commissioner Rajeev Talwar and Joint Commissioner P.R. Meena in different transport authorities cleaned up the messy touts within the compound. Well, I thought this was the best time to go and check it whether even after a year the touts were missing. So I went to Sarai Kale Khan Transport Authority and to my surprise it looked like a desolate place and everything was in order. I took the forms from the window and started filling up. Only bad thing was that I didn’t carry photographs, photocopies of documents, etc. thinking that it will be available in the compound itself, as it was freely available in Janakpuri. They too were missing there. Finally I had to rush outside to get photocopies and photographs clicked. Only outside the gate I bumped into a tout and that too he offered me to get the photographs clicked and get my medical certificate done and photocopies attested. Well, I didn’t take up the offer as I was convinced that my work would be over soon as there were few people and everything was in order, although just 20 minutes were left for the window to be closed. The window shuts at 12.30 pm.

The only bad thing there was that the enquiry window had shut down much before 12.30 pm and I didn’t know which window to go. However, an official sitting on one of the empty window was courteous enough to guide me towards the room at the end of the building, which was a one-stop shop for all who wanted a learner’s licence. At Janakpuri one had to hop from one room to another for different things. But it was totally a different story here. Even the cashier sitting in the counter was courteous and guiding each and every individual who had some problems with their application. Thus getting a learner’s licence was just like a cakewalk for me.

Even the Motor Vehicle Inspector Javed Khan (MVI) was very strict. There was an applicant who was accompanied by an escort. I presumed that he was a tout who was acting like a guide to the applicant. When he tried to help the applicant in the test, Khan just cancelled his test and asked him to leave the room. Well, this no-nonsense attitude goes well with the public also.

Another important thing that I noticed here was the behaviour of the staff, which was extremely polite and courteous. I don’t know about other transport authorities, but wish they too were like this only.

Well, on last Thursday I wrote about my driving experiences in Delhi. I had left the column in between. So here’s the second part of my column describing my two-and-a-half kilometre long ride to office from old Rajinder Nagar to Jhandewalan Extension. This is a journey which I hate. Simply because of the ongoing DMRC’s Line 3 construction. It’s not that due to the construction there are jams, but the same old problem that even Rohini residents faced.

Actually what has happened is DMRC has repaired only one-and-a-half lane of the entire carriageway below the elevated corridor. Which means that all along the Line 3 route, the Metro has repaired only that portion of the road which is below the elevated corridor. The other half of the carriageway is crying for attention from the concerned civic agency to repair the road as that portion of the road isn’t under DMRC. Thus it remains untouched although during the construction of the elevated corridor, even those portions were damaged.

So what commuters have got is a half-baked road, at least till Shadipur Depot from Punchkuian Road. I don’t about the rest till Dwarka. But what has happened now is everybody on the road wants to travel on this repaired portion of the road. Right from blueline buses, two-wheeler riders and worse, the autorickshaw drivers. None wants to travel on the left-most lane. Because of this new phenomenon, the car drivers, who generally are the kings of rightmost lane (fast lane), end up being frustrated drivers and resorting to taking the bumpy ride on the bus lane.

It is a torture to drive cars on Punchkuian Road, Link Road, Pusa Road and Patel Nagar Road these days. I remember Rohini and Pitampura residents faced the same problem when Line 1 was being made. I just wish DMRC with the concerned civic agency should launch a concerted effort in restoring the damaged road together. And not shying away from other portion of the road which doesn’t come under their purview. I hope now you know that why I don’t like the journey from my present home to office. It’s just frustrating. Now I am just waiting for the Line 3 (Barakhamba-Dwarka) to start so that I can be a proud commuter of Nation’s envy and Delhi’s Pride.

Harvinder Singh is peeved by the way authorities are not taking care of the Pankha Road, which is a vital link between Janakpuri, Uttamnagar, Dwarka and other areas to Dhaula Kuan. He says, “Although DDA has made the flyover on Pankha Road above the railway lines but none is bothered to improve the condition of Pankha Road. I stay in Janakpuri and everyday I face problems in reaching my office at Connaught Place.

Although the new flyover has given us a breather but the authorities should have ensured in repairing at least the approach road. Half of Pankha road is full of mud due to the rainy season. This portion of the road is not metalled at all. As soon as one reaches Sagarpur, buses keep on standing there blocking the way of cars. There’s total chaos at this place during morning peak hours.

“In morning one wants to reach office with a fresh mind, but due to traffic snarls at this place, once energy levels just goes down in the morning itself. The road space available is so less that only one bus can move properly on the road, which if repaired properly is as wide as the Ring Road. If some vehicle develops a snag then there’s a huge traffic jam in the morning. Another problem is of stray cattle that just come in front of cars from out of the blues. It’s not that traffic cops are not aware of the problem, but they don’t do anything about it.

“There are lots of fruit vendors who have encroached land on the road. Due to them one lane has totally become unusable. Although the authorities has done a good job with the flyover, but it nullifies the effect because of the bad approach road. And why authorities are turning a blind eye to it, I don’t know?”

I spoke to ACP (Traffic/West) S.S. Sandhu who said, “Regarding the bad maintenance of roads, we keep on asking the concerned civic authorities to repair them, but no one cares. We just keep on writing to them and sending reminders. About encroachments, from time to time we keep on taking action against encroachers.”

I have been to that point and experienced the traffic snarls personally. Even the cycle track of Pankha road needs to be taken care of. Although due to consistent pressure by traffic cops, MCD repaired it long time back but again its position has come back to square one. According to Dr C.M. Bhagat, also a Janakpuri resident, “The traffic police should ensure that cyclists should use this cycle track as the number of cyclists on this road is very high. It’s an accident prone zone for cyclists.” Well, it is high time that government needs to have a re look on the condition of this road as Pankha Road is a very important corridor.

S.M. Hussain, a regular contributor of this column, had earlier written to me about the problems faced by nearby residents due to the presence of Container depot in Tughlaqabad. Recently, Delhi Traffic Police has enforced new restrictions regarding movement of trailers in the Capital. Well, it’s a welcome move, but Hussain has some problems with it saying, “Recently, the Delhi Traffic Police have enforced restrictions on the movement of trailers carrying loaded/unloaded containers to reduce congestion on roads. From July 1, all trailers coming to Container Depot in Tughlakabad will have to enter and exit only through Badarpur Border and will not be permitted to enter Delhi from other borders-Singhu, Tikri, Kapashera, Ghazipur and Kalindi Kunj.

“I have already written in these columns about traffic congestion and other difficulties faced by the residents in the colonies located near the Container Depot. The worst affected are Suraj Apartments, Lal Kuan, Pul Pehladpur, Charmwood (Eros Garden), Railway Colony and the traffic on Mehrauli-Badarpur Road. Since the Depot does not have much space, these containers are parked on the main M.B. Road, occupying 2/3rd of the road, leaving just one carriageway.

“Moreover, the containers are parked in a very haphazard manner, some of them even carrying protruding iron-rods in a very precarious manner. In spite of a number of accidents and altercations, no action has been taken by Delhi Police to remove these containers. Of late, Container Depot has taken over all available space in the nearby areas like parks, Tughlak Fort and also the stretch linking Okhla Industrial Area with M.B. Road to park containers.

“One wonders, how Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has allowed these containers to encroach upon the protected historical Tughlak fort. These containers have become eye sore in front of the majestic Fort. It takes a minimum of one hour to cross a distance of few kilometres from Tughlakabad to Badarpur Border during peak hours if one has not met with an accident. Already people in these areas are living in fear of perennial traffic congestion. They are wondering what would happen from July 1, when all trailers coming to Container Depot in Tughlakabad will have to enter and exit only through Badarpur Border.

“This move will not only congest the whole area from Badarpur Border to Batra Hospital. Badarpur Border is notorious for its traffic jams. The recent order of the Delhi Traffic Police will affect even the traffic on Mathura Road. There will be serpentine traffic jams from Badarpur to Sarita Vihar. The only solution to solve this containers menace is to shift the Container Depot to Dadri Depot since it has been upgraded with all infrastructural facilities for customs and cargo and office of transporters.”

I don’t know whether situation will be as grave as you apprehend as only the trailers coming from north India are allowed to come to Tuglakabad. Rest have to go to Dadri depot. Regarding the trailers stationed on Mehrauli-Badarpur road, yes I agree, it’s a menace for all. But let us wait and watch. Maybe the volume of trailers entering Delhi will reduce and situation gets better, because this decision of Delhi Traffic Police is a well thought one.

Well, on Thursday I wrote about my driving experiences in Delhi. I had left the column in between. So here’s the second part of my column describing my two-and-a-half kilometre long ride to office from old Rajinder Nagar to Jhandewalan Extension. Well, this is a journey which I hate. Simply because of the ongoing DMRC’s Line 3 construction. It’s not that due to the construction there are jams, but the same old problem that even Rohini residents faced.
Actually what has happened is the DMRC has repaired only one-and-a-half lane of the entire carriageway of the elevated corridor. Which means that all along the Line 3 route, the Metro has repaired only that portion of the road which is below the elevated corridor. The other half of the carriageway is waiting for attention from the concerned civic agency to repair the road as that portion of the road wasn’t under DMRC thus remains untouched although during the construction of the elevated corridor, even those portions were damaged.
So what commuters have got is a half-baked road, at least till Shadipur Depot from Punchkuian Road. I don’t about the rest till Dwarka. But what has happened now is everybody on the road wants to travel on this repaired portion of the road. Right from blueline buses, two-wheeler riders and worse the autorickshaw drivers. None wants to travel on the left-most lane. Because of this new phenomenon, the car drivers, who generally are the kings of rightmost lane (fast lane), end up being frustrated drivers and resorting to taking the bus lane.
It is nearly a torture to drive cars on Punchkuian Road, Link Road, Pusa Road and Patel Nagar Road these days. I remember Rohini and Pitampura residents faced the same problem when Line 1 was being made. I just wish DMRC with the concerned civic agency should launch a concerted effort in restoring the damaged road together. And not shying away from other portion of the road which doesn’t come under their purview. I hope now you know that why I don’t like the journey from my present home to office. It’s just frustrating. Now I am just waiting for the Line 3 (Barakhamba-Dwarka) to start so that I can be a proud commuter of Nation’s envy and Delhi’s Pride.

Recently a friend of mine and ex-colleague, Jai Arjun, who’s truly, madly, deeply in love with blogging described in his blog about a Good Road Day in Delhi. I thought I’d share it with you guys. It’s a must read for all. “Most times it’s ghastly driving to office at the peak of the Delhi summer. At the end of the 16 kilometres (which can translate into anywhere between 45 and 80 minutes, depending on how many cars have been bumper-kissing along the route I take, and how antagonistic their drivers are) I feel like I’ve lost 40 per cent of my body weight in sweat and aged a 100 years in the process. Today (June 27) was different; I wouldn’t have minded one bit if I had to travel to another city. The weather was lovely (save for a spell of much-too-heavy rain near the Moolchand flyover) and there were RD Burman specials on radio channels (today being the great man’s birth anniversary).

“When the weather is good, the traffic always seems much better behaved than normal. People even stick to their lanes, don’t honk all that much and there are hardly any traffic jams (except for waterlogging-induced ones). Interesting. And sad, because these are the days I wouldn’t mind being stuck on the road for hours. ("Piya tu ab toh aaja" was being played for the third time when I had to switch the stereo off because I’d reached office.”
Well I have been longing for such a drive but sadly enough I have shifted my residence, which is just a stone’s throw away from office and have sold my old car. Earlier, it was a cool 16-kilometre drive from my home to office and since this paper was just launched, the work timings fluctuated a lot. There were days when I used to go back home at twilight, tired and sleepy, driving at 80kmph ready to crash in the bed. I never enjoyed those drives.
However as my bosses changed the office timings, my route was reversed, and lo I was driving office at 5.30 in the morning. I started enjoying my drive through Moolchand, Delhi Golf Club, India Gate and Ashoka Road. Those were the best drives I ever experienced in Delhi. I used to hit the road at 5.30 in the morning, fresh and revitalized and within 20 minutes I used to reach office. Well, those were the days when I experienced Delhi mornings with a fresh mind for the first time in my last eight years of stay here.
I still remember a cyclist, whom I used to cross paths with everyday, on his bike riding down the Ashoka Road on his way to Yamuna Velodrome. Then I used to come across a certain group of bikers doing wheelies and trying certain acrobatic skills on the open road and not to talk about old couples walking along the road with their pups.
Gone are those days now! I hardly enjoy my two-and-a-half kilometre long ride to office from old Rajinder Nagar to Jhandewalan Extension. Well for journey details you got to wait until my next column is published on Monday.

After reading my story on ways to dodge the police to avoid traffic challans, which was published recently in TODAY, one of my friends sent me a picture of the numberplate of a car. Well, this car seems to be of a cop as it is clearly written on the numberplate of the car. I don’t know why in Delhi people use such stunts. The other day I saw an Indica and on its windscreen the owner had pasted “POLICE” as well as “PRESS” stickers on it. Are these guys mad? Why do they do such things? I fail to understand it.

Maybe this is because of the prevalent system in India where people from the fourth estate, police and lawyers are given preferential treatment by the traffic cops or for that matter any government official. The traffic cops think that advocates can drag them to courts for no reason or rhyme and press people can concoct any cock and bull story against them and put them in trouble. But a lot many times I have seen the traffic cops leaving these “fake” journalists and prosecuting the “real” journalists.

Another group here is of politicians. I have seen few ministers of Delhi government travelling towards secretariat on roads. They just cross you and one won’t even come to know about them. And if you pass through any of the state Bhawans, then you’ll see some non-descript minister, especially from UP and Bihar, having cavalcade of ten cars with them and they won’t even bother to stop during red lights. Forget about the present ministers, I have even seen some one-time ex-ministers who still have beacon light affixed atop their cars even now. Delhi is definitely a place to show-off and sometimes this stuff even works for their benefit. I think Delhi Traffic Police shouldn’t leave such kind of people and prosecute them. Only then their psyche will change.

I received another mail from SM Hussain who writes, “The other day, I saw a motor-cyclist bumped into a branch of tree on the Delhi-Mathura Road, near Haldiram Sweets, and was seriously injured. The tree was uprooted a few days back when the hailstorm lashed the Capital. This is not an isolated accident. A number of accidents take place on Delhi roads not because of rash driving but because of callous attitude of MCD. It is not uncommon to see on Delhi roads trees/poles/wires uprooted because of rains or storms. They keep lying for days together without any one bothering about the great danger they pose to motorists.

“Of late, it has been observed that some people removed stones at many places from the dividers on the Mathura Road to make a convenient U-turn. These stones were left on the roadside, which may cause a big accident. These self-made U-turns pose a big traffic hazard. About the condition of the roads in Delhi (leaving VIP roads like Rajpath), lesser said the better. They are full of potholes and very badly maintained.

“Now with the onset of monsoons, their condition has become bad to worse. Every one in Delhi knows that there are some roads, which are prone to submersion in monsoons except the Delhi Government. That is the reason why no action is initiated for ages.”

I agree in the New Delhi area, authorities are very quick to remove such obstructions on roads. But that area comes under New Delhi Municipal Council and they are prompt in doing stuff. Now Municipal Corporation of Delhi is totally different with different work culture. God save that department. I can just imagine how traffic cops get their work done from them. Regarding the bad condition of roads, Delhi Traffic Police does an exercise every year before the onset of monsoon where they identify bad roads where potholes occur and water logging takes place. After this exercise they send the list to concerned civic authorities like NDMC, MCD, PWD and ask them to repair the road so that motorists don’t face any inconvenience. Now it depends on concerned civic department how they function. Some take the matter seriously and carry on the repairing work and some don’t.

I think the Delhi government should appoint a nodal agency or a cell, which should co-ordinate with different civic agencies and get the work done on urgent basis. At least before the monsoon comes, existing potholes should be filled up.

I received a fax from Lt. Gen J.S. Bhatnagar (retd) who writes, “The traffic signals at the Old Delhi–Gurgaon Road and Rajokri –Najafgarh Road crossing right under the nose of Kapashera police station are either permanently switched off or sometimes put on blinker mode. No traffic policeman is ever assigned to this traffic busy intersection, which results in major nightmarish traffic jams all along the day and night. The road has assumed more significance after the traffic of NH8 towards Palam airport has been routed on this stretch. Two years ago, I had written to the Commissioner of Police and had received responses from both Shri R.S. Gupta and Shri Maxwell Parriera but unfortunately nothing has happened on the ground resulting in constant suffering to the motorists. You could kindly bring it to the notice of the concerned for remedial action.”

Yes, I have passed through this intersection several times and yes I have noticed heavy movement of traffic. These days the traffic movement has increased because lots of trucks take this route. Although I have seen PCR vans stationed here but no traffic policemen. With times traffic is growing manifolds throughout the city and suburbs of Delhi get minimum attention from Delhi Traffic Police due to short staff. Actually the traffic staff is mostly concentrated around airport and on NH8. I think this letter will turn their attention towards these neglected-but-busy intersections now.

Meanwhile, According to a Delhi Traffic Police press release, “The Delhi Traffic Police has prosecuted 16,56,679 vehicles for various type of traffic violations so far this year. Out of these, almost six lakh are Cars or Jeeps, more than four lakh scooters and motorcycles, more than three lakh Light Goods Vehicles.

“In various traffic violations, almost 1075 vehicles are being challaned on an average for violation of Traffic Signals daily. Similarly, 644 vehicles were challaned for Defective Number Plates. 629 drivers were challaned for Not Using Seat Belts. Almost 170 drivers are being challaned on an average for Dangerous Driving daily. On an average, 17 drivers are being challaned for Drunken Driving and 7 for Minor Driving each day.”

So Delhiites, beware when you hit the roads!

I received a fax from Sanjay Bahal who is a transport planner himself. He demands that the road connecting vegetable market (choti subzi mandi) in Tilak Nagar to outer Ring Road, Vikaspuri a no entry zone for heavy commercial vehicles.

He says, “The above-mentioned road is an inner colony road of Tilak Nagar. But what happens is that heavy vehicles like trucks, etc. use this colony road, which is not wide enough, as a bye-pass road for going towards Rohtak, Ferozepur, etc.”

“Now this is a colony road and due to these trucks plying on this road, lot of traffic congestion is experienced here. Even pollution generally remains high here and it has also become a safety issue for senior citizens and kids. These vehicles are driven at a very high speed and after 9 pm life is hell for us. We need a respite from this.

“I just request you to study the problem here and highlight it in your paper. This road should be made a 24-hour No Entry Zone for commercial MMVs and HMVs. Vehicles like Mahindra pickups; etc can be used for loading and unloading purposes for the shopkeepers here. The same vehicle instead of coming back can be asked to proceed towards District Centre, Janakpuri and then can be diverted towards Outer Ring Road for their native destination. If it is done the colony people will feel much safer and will restore peace and tranquillity.”

I just hope the Delhi Traffic Police will take note of this and I hope they work on an action plan keeping in mind your advice. Meanwhile, Pallavi Malhotra mailed me saying, “I don’t know if it’s only me or have others noted this too but why is it that free left turns are never actually free. Even the traffic cops are really not concerned about enforcing lane discipline on these turns so that vehicles turning left get a free way. If they did, there might be less traffic at the signals. And also why is it that the car on extreme right always wants to take the left turn and vice versa?”

Yesterday only I was speaking to HPS Virk, DCP (Traffic/North). He told me that people do zig-zag driving because they are impatient and want to reach their destinations as soon as possible. Actually he felt that habits of Delhiites are changing with times. In this fast-paced world, none has time to be patient. So I feel that patience should be the buzz word when you drive.

I received a mail from Pradeep Kant who is a Managing Director with a firm. He feels that Delhi Police guys should use their resources properly. He writes, “One has to experience the frustration of going for a meeting to Mohan co-operative. On June 7, I was delayed by about 45 minutes. It took me that long to reach from Apollo Hospital to Badarpur Power Plant.

“I am of the view that the traffic police should get very strict about enforcing discipline. Unfortunately they do not appear to treat all citizens equally. I was stopped (on June 7) for over-speeding, while overtaking a garbage truck on Ring Road - ITO flyover. I was trying to avoid the putrid wake of an open garbage truck headed towards the Garbage dump (just ahead of Pragati Maidan - towards the Yamuna).

“Voila! I was let off! Since I requested the inspector to join me and follow the truck - which deserved to be challaned. The posse of traffic policemen must have consisted of about 10 (if not more) policemen and at least two vehicles. At the same time, the Badarpur chowk had only two cops. Any student of management would consider this a mis-appropriation of resources. Hope this can be heard by the right people in Delhi Police.”

I must congratulate you that the Traffic Inspector understood your plight and let you off. These days they hardly leave you. Even I have been challaned twice for over-speeding in the past week. Secondly regarding the allocation of staff, during the surprise checks or wherever the interceptor is stationed, one needs a bit more staff to tackle Delhi drivers. If there are only two or three of them then most of them won’t even bother to stop when these cops ask them to stop. So they need more cops at these places.

Another important factor is that Delhi Traffic Police is short staffed. So at regular places there is less staff. Although the rest of the staff is summoned as the requirement is. Solving Badarpur border’s problem will take time as NHAI is planning to make an eight-lane toll road from Ashram to Badarpur border.

On Saturday night I had a horrifying experience on the Ring Road in Delhi University outside Jubilee Hall. It was around 11.25 pm (June 18) when I was coming from Delhi University guesthouse after meeting some guests. I wanted to hire and auto rickshaw. I stood there for almost 30 minutes but none was ready to go by the meter. During daytime it takes almost Rs 34 and including the night charges the fare would have come to Rs 50 only. I was ready to shell out Rs 60 still none was ready to go to Old Rajinder Nagar. The minimum a driver asked was Rs 75. Rest were all asking for more than that, some even asking for money in three figures.

Well, a blueline bus came plying on route number 971 (Rohini Avantika-Anand Vihar). I boarded the bus along with my friend it till Kingsway Camp because from there one can easily get an auto rickshaw at reasonable rates. That’s when the drunk conductor came to me and asked for Rs 10. I thought he is assumed I am going to Rohini, that’s why he is asking for more money. But he told me that it is night and it is he who decides how much money I got to pay him. Ideally I was supposed to pay Rs 4 for the two of us. When I asked for the tickets, he refused. When I asked why is he doing such a thing and I told him that I would complain.

He got agitated and came to bash me up with a huge iron rod. He nearly lammed me up with the rod but at the right time, I got hold of the iron rod. So he couldn’t hit me. Another of his colleague came to bash me but then few other passengers sitting in the bus started yelling at them. Then he started threatening me saying, “whatever I want to do I can do.” He also dropped some SHO’s name, which I couldn’t remember saying, “we know him and instead we will get you in trouble.” Even the other guy started, I think even he was the conductor, hurling abuses at me and pushed me. They all assumed I was a student and can do nothing. Even I never told them that I am a reporter, otherwise he could have got more aggravated. It was tough pacifying him. Coz. I didn’t know when he would bash me up with the rod. As the first time I was able to grab it. But he was still holding the rod pointing at my head. Somehow I told him nicely that I am very scared of him and won’t ever utter the word complaint again and I am sorry. Please leave me now.

It was then that he shouted at me using the choicest of swear words, “Do whatever you can. The bus number is 7838 and nothing will happen to us. And even if you try and complain about this, wherever you are we won’t leave you.” They then pushed us from the bus. I was stunned by the whole incident. Although my friend who is a student in the university wanted to respond by bashing them, but I contained him somehow. I never wanted to create a scene there and that too with conductors, drivers and their pals sitting next to them. Delhi at night is really scary and unsafe. God save bus passengers from the tyranny of such goons who come in the disguise of blue line bus conductors and drivers.

The antithesis of the whole incident was that as soon as I was pushed down from the bus, I bumped into an auto rickshaw driver. This time I was ready to pay even Rs 100. But when I asked he said that he would go by the meter. Only thing was I had to pay night charges. What else did I want? I hired him and this driver was worth praising. Even after midnight, he stopped at each and every traffic signal and obeyed rules to the hilt. Hats off to such guys!

I received another mail from S.M. Hussain who writes, “On the other day, I travelled from Nehru Place to Badarpur Border by an RTV (Rural Transport Vehicle) i.e., mini-bus. This is the only mode of transport between the two important landmarks for hundreds of commuters working either at Nehru Place or Okhla Industrial Area Phase I, II, III and also to devotees visiting the oldest shrine Kalkaji Mandir. These CNG rural transport vehicles (RTVs) were introduced four years back, especially on the suburban routes, when the Delhi Government introduced CNG buses putting diesel vehicles off the roads.

“These buses out-lived their life because of over-load of passengers and bad use. I was shocked to see when I boarded one of the buses that it had no proper windows, seats or doors. It was in such a ramshackle condition that I felt any moment it might break into pieces. The passengers were herded inside the bus like cattle. Although the maximum capacity of the bus is 18 passengers but more than fifty passengers were squeezed inside it with a couple of passengers sitting right on the driver’s lap.

“The bus kept pace with loud music. Then the actual race began. Four RTVs began the race like monsters on the road unmindful of human life or other vehicles or traffic police. They broke all traffic rules jumping all the traffice-lights with impunity. It looked as if the traffic police have exempted them from driving in the bus-lanes, stopping at the signals, stopping at the bus stops and driving within the speed limit.

“The traffic police were watching these formula RTVs in action like mute spectators. Unless the Delhi police take action against these mini-monsters a big tragedy is waiting to happen. It is high time the transport department abolished RTVs from Delhi roads and introduced DTC buses because these buses were introduced as a temporary relief to the harried commuters when CNG was introduced because of shortage of CNG buses and not as a permanent solution.”

I truly agree with you statement and can well imagine your journey in it. Perhaps, even I have faced the same problem while travelling in these buses. On top of it, they charge even more money from commuters. Actually these buses have been given permit to ply on feeder routes. However, none cares to check them. The fitness test on such buses should be done quite frequently and even traffic police should discipline them instead of taking the customary money from them. RTVs are a real source of income for the cops on the roads. I have seen them taking money. In fact each blueline bus or an RTV has a copybook on the dashboard, which is signed by a constable. That copybook acts as a ledger where all the entries relating to payment made to traffic cops are made. Once this practice stops and cops actually start booking RTVs, only then these guys will straighten up. Until then swear that you won’t board an RTV again.

Speaking about yesterday’s problem regarding Dhaula Kuan flyover, I received another phone call from one Mr Bhatia who says that, “If one comes from S.P. Marg and has to go to Moti Bagh, then one will find lots of buses parked on the left hand side of the flyover. And the left cut for the loop, which connect to Ring Road outside the Transport company office is dangerously narrow. Moreover, it becomes more dangerous when vehicles wanting to go to Moti Bagh come in the way of Gurgaon-going traffic. Something engineering intervention needs to be made in order to improve the situation here, otherwise an accident is waiting to happen here.”

Another mail that I received is from S.S. Mehta who is peeved by the way the traffic cops behave. “On May 20, I sent a request to the traffic police to which got an acknowledgement too but nothing has been done so far. It seems they are waiting for serious accident to happen before they act.”

The mail, which he sent to Traffic Police was, “I am a senior citizen and want to bring gross violation of traffic rules in front of our society to your attention. There is Traffic light in front of the society address of which is given below (B-1/307 SUNRISE APARTMENTS, SECTOR-13, ROHINI). No one wants to stop on the RED LIGHT and if you even remind them the reply is ‘Budhe go your way’. Some times it is even difficult to cross the road on RED LIGHT.

“The school cabs are the ultimate violators. If you want to see the violations, the best time is between 8-9 am, 2-3 pm and later in the evening. My request is that please first appoint some officer of the Traffic Police to persuade the violators not to repeat in future. The officer can come again after two days and if still people violate, book them.”

Regarding the Dhaula Kuan problem, I think it needs some engineering intervention. The other day I faced the same problem here. Since buses keep on standing there one cannot take the left lane. And if you come to the middle lane then one crosses the path of Gurgaon-bound vehicles. So one mistake may lead to an accident. For Mr Mehta’s problem, the cops just need to deploy someone there. These days already they are in a challaning spree. Just few hours at that point and they will mint money like hell and in turn even will put brakes on the law-breakers.