Monday, January 31, 2005

Last week was very sad for the Delhi Police. Four of their constables lost their lives within a gap of four days in different road accidents. Constable Dharmendra was posted in Old Police Lines was coming from trans Yamuna bridge and was going towards Boulevard Road near ISBT on his motorcycle at around 7 am when he met with an accident on January 23 and succumbed to injuries.

On the same day at 8 pm Darshan Singh met with an accident at around 8 pm at Bamrauli Road near Nizampur Border. He was patrolling in the area and was posted at Police Station, Kanjhawala when an unknown vehicle hit his motorcycle. He too died on the spot.

On January 24, Constable Surinder, a rider with Delhi Traffic Police Sadar Bazaar Circle was going to take mail at Teen Murti Traffic Police Lines around 12 midnight. His front tyre of the motorcycle entered a pothole about one-and-a-half feet deep at Chitra Gupta Road and he lost his balance and met with an accident. After battling for life in hospital, he too died on January 26. Poor man, I am told that the pothole too was in the middle of the road.

On January 26, Constable Bani Singh posted at Police Station Mandawli and constable Avdesh (Police Station Parliament Street) were riding on the outer Ring Road and were supposed to report for Republic Day duty in the morning. But an unknown vehicle too hit them at around 4 am on the Outer Ring Road at Gandhi Vihar near Gopalpur. Avdesh was admitted in ICU in serious condition while Bani Singh succumbed to injuries.

I don’t know whether all were wearing helmets or not but I think something should be done to keep a check on the number of accidents at night. Road engineering can be blamed too as visibility is less on most of the roads at night.

Another thing is the Delhi Police should inculcate habit of obeying traffic rules among their junior constabulary. Most of the constables while riding a bike don’t wear helmets.

Such deaths can also be saved if housing problem of these constables can be solved. One of a senior police official told me that lot of constables stay in Nathupura as accommodation there is cheap. Just think about the fact that Avdesh, who is posted in Parliament Street Police Station, lives in Nathupura, which is so far away. I think the bosses really need to give it a serious thought in order to save their lower constabulary from such mishaps.

Monday, January 24, 2005

One Mrs Gupta called me from North Delhi saying, “I just want to apprise you of a serious problem at Kalidas Road in Gulabi Bagh. Actually there is some water work premises of Delhi Jal Board adjoining Petrol Pump on Kalidas Road. From there water continuously flows on the road because of which, the road is in a bad condition. There are lot of potholes there. We have written several letters to Delhi Jal Board but to no effect. We, as motorists, face lot of problems while driving on that road. It’s an old problem and needs an immediate solution since lot of accidents happen on this stretch.”

Again this problem is synonymous with Delhi. I have stayed for three years in Kailash Hills and never in my three years of stay, have I seen a certain stretch of road at East of Kailash C block without the presence of water. In fact I had received a letter from a resident in 2003 complaining about this problem. Such was the gravity of the situation that people staying on that road couldn’t invite guests at their place because there was lot of foul smell due to leakage in the manhole.

There’s another spot on Pusa Road right in front of the Faiz Road-Pusa Road roundabout. There also I have seen water flowing on the main road because of which there are lot of potholes. Due to DMRC working on that area, thankfully they repair those potholes immediately. I think Delhi Traffic Police should identify such points and send it to the concerned civic agencies for immediate action. They had conducted one such exercise on a massive scale last year to identify roads, which were in bad condition due to waterlogging last year during rainy season. But now I think they should repeat it periodically.

Sunday, January 23, 2005

I received a fax from Dr S.K. Bhagra writes, “There should be a periodical - twice a week if not daily – inspection of bulbs put up in traffic signals. In our colony, Shalimar Bagh, at the Jhule Lal Marg T-point near BN (Poorvi) Block, the green signal bulbs are fused for the last one and a half months. With the result there are lot of traffic jams at this point causing chaos.”

Dr Bhagra, the problem of fused traffic lights is not only at Shalimar Bagh, but also at lot of other places in Delhi. I agree Delhi traffic police should be vigilant enough to check them but here I would again say Delhi drivers are also at fault. They know that a particular light is not working; still they will take advantage of it and will jump the red light signal on the pretext that ‘I thought that all the lights are not working’.

I think this attitude should change. Lot of times I have seen people complaining about the notices sent by cops saying that ‘I have been fined for stopping ahead the STOP line, whereas there’s no stop line painted there’. I don’t know why people have such an attitude. There can be several reasons why the line has disappeared from the intersection, but as a good driver it doesn’t take time to make an imaginary line on the intersection on a red light and stop.

Regarding the maintenance of traffic signals I would like to tell you that the Delhi Traffic Police takes the help of two private agencies to manage traffic lights for them. When a signal is not working properly or one of its bulbs are fused, the traffic personnel informs the concerned agency which then undertakes the repairing work. Presently, there are 635 traffic signals and 489 blinkers to assist traffic police in the control and regulation of traffic. So next time if there is any traffic signal which is not working, you can just inform them by calling the 24-hour Traffic Helpline @ 23378888. The Delhi Traffic Police should also see to it that periodic inspection of traffic signals are undertaken.

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

I received a very compassionate mail from Sahiba Bhasin who says, “It is a real pity that on the Delhi roads I feel people do not have a heart. Every time I see an ambulance run with the light on I leave the way for it. If I am not driving then I tell my chauffer to leave the way for the ambulance immediately. But I see that the very next second the vehicle gets stuck because people do not feel the need to give way to an ambulance. For me every time I see an ambulance running I feel really bad about the traffic sense of the Delhites. I feel there should be a very-very heavy fine for not giving way to the ambulance. More than any other vehicle the fire tenders and the ambulances should be given the way.

“The other day I was at Moolchand a fire tender was rushing with the headlight on. Luckily it got the light green but soon after the Lajpat Nagar flyover it got stuck. I was a little behind and I could see from Ashram till CTC plaza, Kilokari it was stuck and could not move more than snail speed.

“Every time I see fire wagons or an ambulance I just pray to god to give life to the people they are heading for and also that some road sense should come to the Delhites at least for these delicate instances. They do not think that it could be their loved ones these essential services may be running for. And if that is not the case have some humility and help them save a few lives by letting them reach in time.”

I truly agree with you Sahiba, the way Delhiites behave on roads is absolutely unbelievable. I have noticed a few times that some drivers want to take the benefit of speeding away by just sticking their vehicles behind these essential services vehicles. Generally wherever the traffic cops are present on intersections, they help making way for such vehicles that are attending distress calls. But on the main carriageway where traffic cops are absent, it is we Delhiites who should lead the way.

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

On Tuesday evening I was at Ganga Ram Hospital. As soon as I reached near the canteen, I saw a car honking for at least 40-45 seconds creating noise pollution. I don’t know how these people get licence to drive. Even if they don’t know rules, at least for the sake of humility, they shouldn’t honk outside a hospital. And the trivial reason for which he was honking was that his folks were standing just five feet away from the car and looking on the other side. He kept on honking until and unless the Delhi Police constable asked him to stop and gave a good piece of mind. However, I think such people should be challenged for the act of nuisance they create.

When I spoke to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic/VIP) H.M. Meena, he said, “Delhi Traffic Police in fact have complaint cards where one can write a complaint and submit it to us. We act on it and send notices for the violation. These complaint cards have been distributed in all pre-paid booths and around hospitals where we have booths also. I have taken notice of Ganga Ram hospital and now will get these cards distributed there.”

Meanwhile I read an interesting news item. I thought I’ll share it with you. I wish it were implemented in Delhi then all the traffic problems would have been solved.
According to the news report Filipinos who walk in the street or cross the road illegally (jaywalkers) will no longer get a slap on the wrist. Instead, they risk a smack with a wet blanket.

According to a traffic enforcement commander of Manila, “We've tried talking to pedestrians, asking them to walk on the sidewalks, but it wasn't effective.”
Under the new campaign, about 20 trucks patrol the city with wooden poles attached to damp blankets emblazoned with the warning: "No walking or standing in the streets". People who don't step back onto the kerb are in for a rude shock.

In the past, offenders who blocked the road while waiting for public transport were fined, jailed, told to do community service or made to sing the national anthem in public. Just think if Delhi Traffic Police takes even one such decision, half of the problem will be over.

Monday, January 17, 2005

Apart from managing traffic on Delhi roads and booking violators, the Delhi Traffic Police plays a major role in educating road users too. The cops feel that road accidents are the result of lack of awareness and attitudinal problems of road users. Most of the road users are ignorant of road signs and markings, have least knowledge about defensive driving tactics and are inconsiderate to users. The Road Safety cell of the Delhi Traffic Police conducts educational and awareness programmes among al category of road users including commercial vehicle drivers and school children.

Besides Road Safety Cell, the field staff including Traffic Inspectors and Zonal Officers posted in different traffic circles also organise safety awareness programmes for children. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmed in his annual report informed that 1315 schools were covered by Road Safety Cell and field staff last year under this programme. Besides the Delhi Traffic Police’s Traffic Training Parks had visitors from 593 schools.

The Road Safety Cell has also designed and prepared a textbook for school children falling in the age group of 12-16 years covering topics on road safety norms to be followed while on roads for school children. They have proposed to make ‘Road Safety’ a compulsory subject up to class X.

I truly support this call by the traffic cops. Road Safety should be made a compulsory subject in the school. Rather than forcing people to follow traffic rules, if the habit of following traffic rules is inculcated in children right from the beginning only, they will emerge much better citizens.

Sunday, January 16, 2005

I received a mail from Anil Sood who says, “The statement of the Transport Commissioner who is considered to be an intelligent officer that he is of the view to increase the speed limit from 50 to 60 and above in view of the new models of high speed cars including Marutis.

“It appears that the Commissioner Transport has forgotten one fact that the Transport Department in one year has booked only 151 cases of Rash and Negligent driving and there are no cases of Minor driving in Delhi (Source Delhi Right to Information) where as very often Media reports many accidents that are caused due to rash and negligent driving of new high speed cars.

“The blue line buses though supposed to have speed governors as per direction dated 20th November 1997, 10th & 16th December 1997 by the Apex Court continue to ply at speed much beyond 40 and flout the law with impunity creating panic on the roads. The Transport Department continues to watch such accidents helplessly without taking any deterrent action. The death toll on the roads of Delhi continues to go up. Who cares?

“It is suggested that the Transport Commissioner should first sit with Joint Commissioner (Traffic) and assess the damage that is caused by rash and negligent driving of cars, buses and trucks and also should meet the dependants of the victims before making such public announcements.”

Recently I met the Commissioner Transport Rajeev Talwar in a press conference. No doubt he is a very intelligent person and a great thinker and planner. The best part about him is that when he talks about infrastructure and planning, he doesn’t forget to talk about economics too. He told us that whenever they launch a drive to catch offenders who break rules of the road, they do it in consultation with Delhi Traffic Police.

Presently Delhi Transport department is solely catching autorickshaw drivers who take Delhiites for ride. He also informed that drive against polluting vehicles would continue forever. At that time he told me that for blueline buses, there’s already a drive launched by traffic police so transport department doesn’t want to prosecute buses, thus the low figures. The drive is a month old now and most Delhiites who travel by autorickshaws, can feel the difference. For the past one week, wherever I have travelled, I paid by meter. Although denial to go to a particular place is still there, but auto drivers now don’t mind taking passengers by meters, which wasn’t the case a month back. And the man behind the success of this drive, apart from the commissioner who entrusted the job to him, is Transport department’s Deputy Commissioner S.S. Gill. Regarding the increasing of the speed limit, I don’t want to comment coz, neither do I have the expertise nor do I have the power to implement it. It is a contentious matter, which can be debated to no end.

Saturday, January 01, 2005

The condition at Dhaula Kuan has improved a lot especially at the point where NH8 starts. Due to the traffic signal at NH8-Station Road T-junction, which is barely few hundred metres from the Dhaula Kuan flyover, there used to be huge jams on this road. The National Highway Authority of India and Delhi Traffic Police have chalked out a good plan to decongest the place. According to Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmed, “NHAI is making separate lanes on the left hand side of NH8 at Dhaula Kuan flyover opposite Defence Services Officers Institute for inter-state as well as local buses to decongest the place. Now on the main carriageway traffic won’t be disturbed due to halting buses.”

This is one good step that the NHAI and traffic police have taken to decongest the carriageway. And one can see lot of traffic cops manning the stretch. Due to the visibility of traffic cops, the buses don’t prolong their halt, which keeps the traffic moving here. Although the pedestrian-spill over on the main road is still existing but it is comparatively less.

Meanwhile, the Institute of Road Traffic Education has conferred the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award to Delhi Traffic Police for the year 2004 in recognition of the profound contribution towards development of road safety.

The award is conferred on state police forces, transport departments and municipal departments for extra ordinary contribution to infrastructure development for traffic management and road safety. Similarly the award is conferred on officers of police, transport and municipal departments, who in individual capacity make contribution in traffic management and road safety.