I received a long mail from Ajay Kumar, which I will divide into two parts. The first part of the letter says, “I am wondering how the traffic situation in Delhi on its roads will improve, no matter how much money is poured into it for improvement of roads and flyover infrastructure. First of all, one has to look at how the Traffic Police manages the traffic on the roads; there is a general impression of apathy.

“I say this looking to the traffic situation at Badarpur, which seems to be left to the God literally. There is Badarpur Police station right in the heart of the mess next to Jaitpur traffic crossing. And the private buses as well as the mini buses have a gala time using the T-Junction right at the traffic light as a parking lot in full view of the Police station, while the other vehicles jostle around for space to get across. And we do not see a single policeman trying to do anything about it.

“And at the Badarpur Border bus stand, the situation is no different. The buses can just stop anywhere; use the roadsides of the Mathura Road as a parking lot wherever they wish (even in the middle of the road). And a recent statement by Mr Qamar Ahmed in a section of the press (stating that they are tightening controls against the Blue Line drivers and will not allow them to break the discipline) is laughable.

“The buses can just do anything on the road, stop anywhere even in the middle of the road to pick up passengers, drive in the top lanes, jump traffic lights etc, we have the Delhi Traffic policemen turning a blind eye to all that. What does Mr Ahmed have to say to that?

“Secondly, one used to a see a board right at Badarpur border that HTV, MMV are not allowed to ply on Mathura Road and Mehrauli-Badarpur Road between 8-11 am in the mornings and 5-9 pm in the evenings. But that is not followed leading to chaos at these peak traffic hours. Have the rules been changed for the convenience of the commercial vehicle association?”

I will take up the Badarpur Border problem first. Recently I crossed that road and found that for the time being the border has been developed although temporarily although there’s a plan by NHAI to make a proper border and work will start soon. Even widening of the Mathura Road stretch is on cards.

Regarding the blue lines, according to a police official, Mr Ahmed has sent the word across his force that he will judge the progress of Traffic Inspectors by the way the blue line buses drive in their circles. Recently he found two blue line buses racing with each other and overtaking them. He immediately asked the traffic inspector to take action against these buses and pulled him up. Although I agree changes do happen but it takes time. Another fact is he cannot be present everywhere. So it should be the prerogative of his subordinates who can keep discipline on Delhi roads.