Thursday, Dec 31, 2009
What was described as the only solution to the parking mess on Bahardur Shah Zafar Marg — an underground multi-level parking lot to be built by MCD at Shaheed Park — has hit a roadblock. Under fire from Delhi High Court for allowing construction activities within 100 metres of protected monuments, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has refused to give permission to MCD, saying it was in the prohibited area of two centrally-protected monuments — Khooni Darwaza and Ferozeshah Kotla ruins.
Though the parking was meant to cater to Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, MCD has now shifted the site to Parade Ground near Chandni Chowk. How this will help office-goers on Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, by any stretch of imagination, is not known. MCD commissioner K S Mehra told TOI: ''We will continue to try for permission from ASI and revive the original parking plan at Shaheed Park. There has to be a policy change.''
That's a remote possibility for now. A senior ASI official said: ''MCD approached us for permission five months back and the case was referred to an expert advisory committee. The committee asked MCD to submit drawings of the plan showing the location of all ASI monuments in the vicinity to ensure they were not harmed. The area is archaeologically rich and there has been evidence of ancient structures buried there. MCD was supposed to refer back to the committee with proper drawings documenting all the centrally-protected monuments. But since this committee has been dissolved after a Delhi HIgh Court order, there is no one to give them permission now.''
The high court had pulled up ASI for granting permission within 100 metres of such monuments for development work, resulting in ASI withdrawing permission to PWD for Barapullah Nallah.
Last week MCD officials had said that work on the parking lot at Shaheed Park was going to start soon.
But the standing committee agenda tabled on Wednesday clearly mentioned ''change of plan of site from Shaheed Park to Parade Ground, Chandni Chowk area''. Tenders for the proposed Shaheed Park parking lot have been floated, and while the standing committee on Wednesday gave in-principle approval to the plan, officials said shifting the project plan to Parade Ground was only an interim measure. ''The parking plan will go to the House now,'' said a senior MCD official.It was to be one of the biggest parking lot under a park in the city and would have accommodated about 700 vehicles.
Around 1,500 vehicles are parked in the Bahadurshah Zafar Marg area daily with space for only around 500 in the authorised parking lots, according to sources. Around 24 such parking sites were supposed to be constructed under the green cover in Delhi before Commonwealth Games 2010 but work has begun on only four.NEW DELHI: This New Year's eve, an increasing number of Delhiites are opting to hail a cab or designate a driver to take them home after spirited year-end bashes. With rising awareness about the ills of drunken driving and strict prosecution by the traffic police in the past year, radio cab operators and chauffeur services say advance bookings for the early hours of January 1 have touched an all-time high.
''There is no point driving back in the fog, especially after some drinks. I have already made an online booking for a cab for 3am on January 1,'' said Shashwat Khanna of Defence Colony, who is headed to a friend's farm on MG Road.
Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Party-safe-Delhiites-rush-to-book-cabs/articleshow/5397308.cms
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Cops are best judge of traffic: HC
Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009
The traffic police may well be cursed every now and then for changing rules that lead to vehicular congestion, but the Delhi High Court has said cops should be granted enough leeway in deciding traffic management. ''Ultimately, it is for the traffic police to decide how best they can manage and regulate traffic and parking,'' Justice Sanjiv Khanna has observed in a recent order, refusing to issue any directions to the police in a case related to central market Lajpat Nagar. He was hearing a petition filed by Resident Welfare Association of I-block, urging HC to set aside the traffic plan currently in place in the central market. The current policy makes key routes falling inside the market ''one way.''
In the petition, the RWA sought quashing of the new traffic rules issued by DCP (traffic) declaring Firoz Gandhi Marg and Veer Sawarkar Marg as one way routes. They alleged this was an arbitrary rule which put local residents to great inconvenience. After the court sought a response, the traffic police filed a status report pointing out the area in question was extremely congested.
It further informed HC that in 2004 the Central Road Research Institute had carried out a survey for regulating traffic movement and parking plan in the area, after which the MCD prepared a long term scheme for traffic movement. Once this was approved by the deputy commissioner, Central Zone, the one-way scheme was put in place. Cops maintained all due procedures had been followed and allegation of arbitrariness were unfounded.
The high court agreed saying new scheme/plans when implemented can result in inconvenience but the police can experiment and take remedial steps as and when needed.
''Every traffic plan or regulation in a heavily congested area like Lajpat Nagar is bound to create difficulties and inconvenience for some traders/residents and be more advantageous for those at another location. The fact that the market is frequented is beneficial for all traders,'' HC reasoned, leaving it to the traffic cops to consider the suggestions and take action if needed.
Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Cops-are-best-judge-of-traffic-HC/articleshow/5393556.cms
The traffic police may well be cursed every now and then for changing rules that lead to vehicular congestion, but the Delhi High Court has said cops should be granted enough leeway in deciding traffic management. ''Ultimately, it is for the traffic police to decide how best they can manage and regulate traffic and parking,'' Justice Sanjiv Khanna has observed in a recent order, refusing to issue any directions to the police in a case related to central market Lajpat Nagar. He was hearing a petition filed by Resident Welfare Association of I-block, urging HC to set aside the traffic plan currently in place in the central market. The current policy makes key routes falling inside the market ''one way.''
In the petition, the RWA sought quashing of the new traffic rules issued by DCP (traffic) declaring Firoz Gandhi Marg and Veer Sawarkar Marg as one way routes. They alleged this was an arbitrary rule which put local residents to great inconvenience. After the court sought a response, the traffic police filed a status report pointing out the area in question was extremely congested.
It further informed HC that in 2004 the Central Road Research Institute had carried out a survey for regulating traffic movement and parking plan in the area, after which the MCD prepared a long term scheme for traffic movement. Once this was approved by the deputy commissioner, Central Zone, the one-way scheme was put in place. Cops maintained all due procedures had been followed and allegation of arbitrariness were unfounded.
The high court agreed saying new scheme/plans when implemented can result in inconvenience but the police can experiment and take remedial steps as and when needed.
''Every traffic plan or regulation in a heavily congested area like Lajpat Nagar is bound to create difficulties and inconvenience for some traders/residents and be more advantageous for those at another location. The fact that the market is frequented is beneficial for all traders,'' HC reasoned, leaving it to the traffic cops to consider the suggestions and take action if needed.
Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Cops-are-best-judge-of-traffic-HC/articleshow/5393556.cms
Crane topples on cars in South Delhi
Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009
Four cars damaged, none hurt as hydra crane at flyover construction site falls during morning rush hour
Four cars were damaged after a hydra crane at an under-construction flyover site fell on them in Badarpur, Southeast Delhi, on Tuesday morning.
No one was reported injured.
The mishap occurred at 8.30 am near the Jaitpur crossing traffic signal, when the crane fell on early-morning traffic moving from Faridabad towards the Capital. At least four cars were damaged in the incident; people inside them "miraculously" escaped unhurt, police and rescue officials said.
A Maruti-800, a Maruti Zen, a Tata Indigo Marino and a Mahindra Bolero were damaged in the accident.
T N Kaushik, who was driving the Maruti-800 on which the crane fell, told Newsline, "I was going to Nizamuddin railway station to receive my sister and brother-in-law when the incident occurred. I and a relative accompanying me were in the car when it fell suddenly — the car's roof bent down due to the impact." Kaushik lives in Sector-24, Faridabad.
The others who bore the brunt of the mishap were Sumit (driving the Bolero car from Jattari to Delhi with two others), Nikhil Sharma (headed for his office in Noida in the Zen), and Sunil Kumar Aggarwal and two of his friends — all residents of Agra — who were on their way to Mayapuri in their Indigo car.
The police have confiscated the crane and arrested its driver, identified as Sanjay Giri, for negligence. Police officials said further aspects in the case are being investigated. They added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had awarded the contract for building the flyover to Hindustan Construction Company, which had sub-contracted the work.
The six-lane elevated Badarpur-Faridabad flyover on Mathura Road is proposed to be a 4.4-kilometre signal-free stretch. It stretches from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) station at Badarpur to the Sector-37 crossing in Faridabad.
Original news source http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Crane-topples-on-cars-in-South-Delhi/561305
Four cars damaged, none hurt as hydra crane at flyover construction site falls during morning rush hour
Four cars were damaged after a hydra crane at an under-construction flyover site fell on them in Badarpur, Southeast Delhi, on Tuesday morning.
No one was reported injured.
The mishap occurred at 8.30 am near the Jaitpur crossing traffic signal, when the crane fell on early-morning traffic moving from Faridabad towards the Capital. At least four cars were damaged in the incident; people inside them "miraculously" escaped unhurt, police and rescue officials said.
A Maruti-800, a Maruti Zen, a Tata Indigo Marino and a Mahindra Bolero were damaged in the accident.
T N Kaushik, who was driving the Maruti-800 on which the crane fell, told Newsline, "I was going to Nizamuddin railway station to receive my sister and brother-in-law when the incident occurred. I and a relative accompanying me were in the car when it fell suddenly — the car's roof bent down due to the impact." Kaushik lives in Sector-24, Faridabad.
The others who bore the brunt of the mishap were Sumit (driving the Bolero car from Jattari to Delhi with two others), Nikhil Sharma (headed for his office in Noida in the Zen), and Sunil Kumar Aggarwal and two of his friends — all residents of Agra — who were on their way to Mayapuri in their Indigo car.
The police have confiscated the crane and arrested its driver, identified as Sanjay Giri, for negligence. Police officials said further aspects in the case are being investigated. They added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had awarded the contract for building the flyover to Hindustan Construction Company, which had sub-contracted the work.
The six-lane elevated Badarpur-Faridabad flyover on Mathura Road is proposed to be a 4.4-kilometre signal-free stretch. It stretches from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) station at Badarpur to the Sector-37 crossing in Faridabad.
Original news source http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Crane-topples-on-cars-in-South-Delhi/561305
Sunday, December 27, 2009
New traffic circulation plan for CP
Monday , Dec 28, 2009
With the New Delhi Municipal Council taking up redevelopment work at Connaught Place including construction of eight new subways in outer circle, a service corridor in middle circle, façade restoration and other related improvements, a new traffic advisory has been issued for the market place.
The new plan would come into effect from January 1 and remain in place for a period of 80 days.
As per the new traffic circulation plan, only half the width of outer circle would be available for vehicular movement and no parking would be available on middle circle and outer circle. Only one lane would be available in middle circle for traffic movement.Along with issuing the new traffic advisory, the Delhi Traffic Police also advised the general public to use the metro railway and other public transport for commuting to Connaught Place. While bus route numbers 56, 85, 166, 181, 355, 393, 440, 460, 604, 729, RL-77, RL-75, RL-79, RL-77 Extra, GL-91 and 522AC destined for New Delhi Railway station would continue to ply through Connaught Place, routes of other buses plying through Connaught Place have been changed and would be notified shortly by the Delhi Transport Corporation.
The eight subways that will come up in the outer circle will include one near Super Bazar, Minto Road, State Entry Road, Chelmsford Road, Bhagat Singh Marg, and two each at Punchkuian Road and Barakhamba Road on both sides of the metro line. These subways will be disabled-friendly and have escalators.
Work on the subways is expected to be completed in three phases and would cost Rs.35 crore. The condition of existing subways would also be improved as part of the project. Apart from subway construction and improvement the NDMC is also going to begin with service ducting in the middle circle which will require more digging to put all wires and cables into a duct.
However, traders of Connaught Place have not taken well to the traffic arrangements following the redevelopment work. According to New Delhi Traders' Association president Atul Bharghav, the new traffic circulation plan would only lead to increased traffic congestion and bottlenecks in Connaught Place and have an adverse impact on their business.At present facade restoration work is on in 16 blocks in Connaught Place making it a task for pedestrians to walk around the area. These projects have a deadline of Commonwealth Games 2010 due to which they have all been taken up simultaneously.
Original news source http://www.thehindu.com/2009/12/28/stories/2009122855910400.htm
With the New Delhi Municipal Council taking up redevelopment work at Connaught Place including construction of eight new subways in outer circle, a service corridor in middle circle, façade restoration and other related improvements, a new traffic advisory has been issued for the market place.
The new plan would come into effect from January 1 and remain in place for a period of 80 days.
As per the new traffic circulation plan, only half the width of outer circle would be available for vehicular movement and no parking would be available on middle circle and outer circle. Only one lane would be available in middle circle for traffic movement.Along with issuing the new traffic advisory, the Delhi Traffic Police also advised the general public to use the metro railway and other public transport for commuting to Connaught Place. While bus route numbers 56, 85, 166, 181, 355, 393, 440, 460, 604, 729, RL-77, RL-75, RL-79, RL-77 Extra, GL-91 and 522AC destined for New Delhi Railway station would continue to ply through Connaught Place, routes of other buses plying through Connaught Place have been changed and would be notified shortly by the Delhi Transport Corporation.
The eight subways that will come up in the outer circle will include one near Super Bazar, Minto Road, State Entry Road, Chelmsford Road, Bhagat Singh Marg, and two each at Punchkuian Road and Barakhamba Road on both sides of the metro line. These subways will be disabled-friendly and have escalators.
Work on the subways is expected to be completed in three phases and would cost Rs.35 crore. The condition of existing subways would also be improved as part of the project. Apart from subway construction and improvement the NDMC is also going to begin with service ducting in the middle circle which will require more digging to put all wires and cables into a duct.
However, traders of Connaught Place have not taken well to the traffic arrangements following the redevelopment work. According to New Delhi Traders' Association president Atul Bharghav, the new traffic circulation plan would only lead to increased traffic congestion and bottlenecks in Connaught Place and have an adverse impact on their business.At present facade restoration work is on in 16 blocks in Connaught Place making it a task for pedestrians to walk around the area. These projects have a deadline of Commonwealth Games 2010 due to which they have all been taken up simultaneously.
Original news source http://www.thehindu.com/2009/12/28/stories/2009122855910400.htm
Sunday, December 20, 2009
New underground Metro station at Central Secretariat
Monday , Dec 21, 2009
By September next year, the existing Metro station at Central Secretariat with double up to cater to the existing Line 2 which will beextended to Gurgaon and a new Metro line to Badarpur. To provide seamless connectivity and interchange between the two lines, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has created a new underground station beside the existing one and the two are going to be interlinked at the platform as well as concourse (ticketing) levels.
For all those travelling on the Jehangirpuri-Central Secretariat-Gurgaon and Central Secretariat-Badarpur Metro lines, the station will act as an interchange point where passengers can switch lines. For better connectivity, all passengers entering this underground Metro station will find a common concourse from where they can purchase tokens/smart cards and move towards the platform of their destination using lifts, escalators or staircases.
"Direct access will be provided between the platforms of Line 2 (Jehangirpuri to Gurgaon) and Line 6 (Central Secretariat to Badarpur) so that passengers from Jehangirpuri side wanting to travel towards Badarpur have to walk a short distance on the same level to change trains. Other passengers will have to come up to the concourse level before changing platforms,'' explained a DMRC spokesperson.
This is the first time an operational Metro station has been expanded. "The task is challenging as construction activities are being carried out without causing inconvenience to commuters. It was also very complex for the engineers to excavate a tunnel at a depth of approximately 16m running through the high-security Lutyens' Zone,'' the spokesperson added.
The new underground station has been constructed using the cut and cover technique. It has a height of 5.75m and width of 5.2m, stretching up to the Udyog Bhawan underground Metro station. The length of each platform is 140m with a width of 6.5m. The station will have five entry/exit points, which will be common for the old and new stations.
Parking at Central Secretariat station will also be restored by September 2010, after the Badarpur line becomes operational. The Gurgaon line is scheduled to start by June next year. The passenger subway at Gate No 4 will also be reopened at the same time.
The construction work of the Metro station for Line 6 started in September 2007 and over 75% of the civil work has been completed. The new Central Secretariat-Badarpur corridor will have 15 stations covering a distance of 20.16km. The expected daily traffic on this corridor is 3,60,122 by 2011.
Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/New-underground-Metro-station-at-C-Sec-/articleshow/5359968.cms
By September next year, the existing Metro station at Central Secretariat with double up to cater to the existing Line 2 which will beextended to Gurgaon and a new Metro line to Badarpur. To provide seamless connectivity and interchange between the two lines, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has created a new underground station beside the existing one and the two are going to be interlinked at the platform as well as concourse (ticketing) levels.
For all those travelling on the Jehangirpuri-Central Secretariat-Gurgaon and Central Secretariat-Badarpur Metro lines, the station will act as an interchange point where passengers can switch lines. For better connectivity, all passengers entering this underground Metro station will find a common concourse from where they can purchase tokens/smart cards and move towards the platform of their destination using lifts, escalators or staircases.
"Direct access will be provided between the platforms of Line 2 (Jehangirpuri to Gurgaon) and Line 6 (Central Secretariat to Badarpur) so that passengers from Jehangirpuri side wanting to travel towards Badarpur have to walk a short distance on the same level to change trains. Other passengers will have to come up to the concourse level before changing platforms,'' explained a DMRC spokesperson.
This is the first time an operational Metro station has been expanded. "The task is challenging as construction activities are being carried out without causing inconvenience to commuters. It was also very complex for the engineers to excavate a tunnel at a depth of approximately 16m running through the high-security Lutyens' Zone,'' the spokesperson added.
The new underground station has been constructed using the cut and cover technique. It has a height of 5.75m and width of 5.2m, stretching up to the Udyog Bhawan underground Metro station. The length of each platform is 140m with a width of 6.5m. The station will have five entry/exit points, which will be common for the old and new stations.
Parking at Central Secretariat station will also be restored by September 2010, after the Badarpur line becomes operational. The Gurgaon line is scheduled to start by June next year. The passenger subway at Gate No 4 will also be reopened at the same time.
The construction work of the Metro station for Line 6 started in September 2007 and over 75% of the civil work has been completed. The new Central Secretariat-Badarpur corridor will have 15 stations covering a distance of 20.16km. The expected daily traffic on this corridor is 3,60,122 by 2011.
Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/New-underground-Metro-station-at-C-Sec-/articleshow/5359968.cms
ON TRACK - Railway minister rolls out gift for east Delhi residents
Sunday , Dec 20, 2009
It's a New Year gift to more than 50-lakh people residing in East Delhi and surrounding areas.
Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit jointly inaugurated the new station building of the new railway terminal at Anand Vihar.
But to begin with, only one platform will be operational.<br>"This is only the beginning and it will soon be expanded," Dikshit said.
Dilskhit said the new terminal would benefit over 10 lakh people who come to Delhi everyday in their cars or buses and add to vehicular pressure on Delhi roads.
"Delhi's traffic is really bad and every one in Delhi is worried about it. The new terminal will help in decongesting Delhi's roads," Dikshit said.
In the long run, the new terminal will have 272 trains - long distance express and passenger trains as well as local and shuttle -- to and from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and other eastern states either originating or passing through the station.
"From March 10, three new express trains -- Garibrath Express for Motihari, one for Jogbani and another for Varanasi, will start from Anand Vihar. Two more trains, one for Farakka and another for New Jalpaiguri, will also start soon," a northern railway spokesperson said.
While the officials maintained that all eastbound trains will start or terminate at Anand Vihar terminal, they refused to say how soon it is going to happen.
The railway minister also flagged off the first express train, which will originate and terminate at Anand Vihar. The Anand Vihar-Lucknow winter special will run thrice a week.
On the lines of the railway's first women special EMU train between New Delhi and Palwal, Banerjee also inaugurated another women's special train to run between Ghaziabad and New Delhi. She also announced the launch of more women special trains and re-christening them to 'Matrabhoomi Special'.
Banerjee also announced increase in number of coaches in Delhi - Panipat EMU train from 12 to 15.
Keeping the Commonwealth Games 2010 in mind, Banerjee said, "A special train would be run throughout the country to popularise the games."<div id=speechData style='display:none;'>It's a New Year gift to more than 50-lakh people residing in East Delhi and surrounding areas.
Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit jointly inaugurated the new station building of the new railway terminal at Anand Vihar.
But to begin with, only one platform will be operational.<br>"This is only the beginning and it will soon be expanded," Dikshit said.
Dilskhit said the new terminal would benefit over 10 lakh people who come to Delhi everyday in their cars or buses and add to vehicular pressure on Delhi roads.
"Delhi's traffic is really bad and every one in Delhi is worried about it. The new terminal will help in decongesting Delhi's roads," Dikshit said.
In the long run, the new terminal will have 272 trains - long distance express and passenger trains as well as local and shuttle -- to and from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and other eastern states either originating or passing through the station.
"From March 10, three new express trains -- Garibrath Express for Motihari, one for Jogbani and another for Varanasi, will start from Anand Vihar. Two more trains, one for Farakka and another for New Jalpaiguri, will also start soon," a northern railway spokesperson said.
While the officials maintained that all eastbound trains will start or terminate at Anand Vihar terminal, they refused to say how soon it is going to happen.
The railway minister also flagged off the first express train, which will originate and terminate at Anand Vihar. The Anand Vihar-Lucknow winter special will run thrice a week.
On the lines of the railway's first women special EMU train between New Delhi and Palwal, Banerjee also inaugurated another women's special train to run between Ghaziabad and New Delhi. She also announced the launch of more women special trains and re-christening them to 'Matrabhoomi Special'.
Banerjee also announced increase in number of coaches in Delhi - Panipat EMU train from 12 to 15.
Keeping the Commonwealth Games 2010 in mind, Banerjee said, "A special train would be run throughout the country to popularise the games."
Original Article sourced from http://hindustantimes.com
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Traffic cops mull extra tax for those owning more than two vehicles
Wednesday , Dec 16, 2009
If you fancy a fleet of cars parked in front of your house, be ready to shell out more as taxes.
The Delhi Traffic Police has told the High Court that it favours levying additional taxes on those who own more than two vehicles. In a submission before the High Court, the department said it is mulling stricter taxation rules to keep a check on the number of vehicles — fast spiralling out of control and severely adding to the city's traffic problems.
The traffic department's counsel, Vikas Pahwa, told a Special Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justices S Muralidhar and S Ravinder Bhatt that the suggestions have already been submitted to the Delhi government for consideration and suitable action.
Pahwa told the Bench that putting on hold registration of vehicles is the first step "to ease out traffic on roads". He told the court: "For those who have more than two vehicles registered in their names, we are planning to slap more taxes in the form of road tax, parking charges, area pricing and other such taxes."
He said the stringent norms are necessary since about 30 per cent vehicles on Delhi roads are cars, and two-wheelers constitute 62 per cent.
The Bench said the government should consider the change in regulations governing taxes for vehicles.
The court was hearing a petition by the NGO Manushi, which said the court's order and MCD's policy of banning cycle rickshaws from main arterial roads and Chandni Chowk was arbitrary and violated fundamental rights of rickshawpullers. The Bench reserved its verdict and asked the civic body's counsel to submit the written arguments in a week's time.
The government had earlier suggested the introduction of biometric badges for cycle rickshawpullers, and also adopting different colour codes for each city zone.
Original Article sourced from http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/traffic-cops-mull-extra-tax-for-those-owning-more-than-two-vehicles/554612/
Friday, December 18, 2009
Delhi Metro starts trial run on new route
Saturday , Dec 12, 2009
The Delhi Metro Saturday began its trial run on the 6.17 km long Yamuna Bank-Anand Vihar route in the eastern part of the capital. The route is expected to be used by at least 100,000 passengers every day.
The route is expected to open for public by the end of this month or early next month, said an official of the Delhi Metro Rail Corp (DMRC).
The trial run was between the Lakshmi Nagar and Preet Vihar stations early in the day. "The trains will run up to Preet Vihar for some days before the trial runs are extended till the Anand Vihar station."
The Anand Vihar Metro Station has been planned as a major integrating terminal that will bring together three modes of public transport - Metro, Indian Railways and the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT).
Original Article sourced from http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a99809.html
Work begins on multi-level parking project at KG Marg
Friday , Dec 11, 2009
Kasturba Gandhi Marg near Connaught Place, home to 19-odd skyscrapers, sees a high number of cars requiring parking space every day.
Most of the buildings were built decades ago, when nobody predicted the vehicle boom. Today, the parking problem has become acute.
Now, with work beginning on the proposed automated multi-level parking project in the area on Monday, vehicle owners can breathe easy. After completion, the 6,219-sq ft parking lot will be able to hold 1,582 cars.
The construction, which began after a prolonged delay, will be over in 18 months. But the building will miss the Commonwealth Games deadline — contrary to the assurance given by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) when the project was launched in 2007. DS Construction Limited is in charge of the project.
Temporary offices of the project team have been set up and material for the construction is being procured.
Being raised at a prime location, the building will be accessible from Tolstoy Road, KG Marg and Barakhamba Road and will provide parking solutions to the HT Building, the American Center and Antriksh Bhawan, which stand directly in front.
"The building will have three basements and 13 floors. Once a car is placed on the platform, a computer command will indicate where to deposit the vehicle. The process will take about three minutes," said an NDMC official. The technology will be imported from Germany and 400 cars can be parked in an hour. To make optimum use of land, the building will be triangular and have attractive glass exteriors .
The scheme was launched in 2007 along with two other automated parkings — in Sarojini Nagar and BKS Marg, which are being executed by the DLF. While work on those began a couple of months ago, this project had to wait for clearances.
Original Article sourced from http://www.indianexpress.com/news/work-begins-on-multilevel-parking-project-at-kg-marg/552754/0
Thursday, December 17, 2009
DIMTS starting facility to rent bikes
Thursday , Dec 10, 2009
From Monday, those living around or visiting the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor in south Delhi will be able to rent bicycles to travel around the colonies. Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System (DIMTS) is starting a facility to rent bikes at five locations on the operational part of the corridor between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand, from where cycles will be available at a nominal rent of Rs 10 for four hours.
The cycle stations are coming up at Siri Fort crossing, Andrews Ganj, Sheikh Sarai, Chirag Dilli and Ambedkar Nagar. At each of the stations, about 10 cycles will be available, but the number might be increased according to the demand. Those interested will need to come with an original ID proof (any one issued by the government) and a passport size photograph which will be kept as security. "An additional fee of Rs 5 will be asked for along with the rent. The commuters will also have the option of renting a cycle from one station and depositing it at another,'' said Col Ashok Kumar Singh, GM (Operations), DIMTS.
All the cycle stations will also double up as parking facilities for bikes. So if you live in Greater Kailash, you can cycle upto the nearest station, leave your bike to take a bus or metro, complete your chores and return home on the cycle again. The idea is to provide a fast, economical and eco-friendly feeder service to the BRT corridor, which also has the Metro coming up on it near Jangpura, Defence Colony and Moolchand. DIMTS is planning to tie-up with the malls in Saket and LSR college to make similar cycle stations there as well where people can park their bikes.
Even before the service has kicked off, the enquiries have already begun. "Lots of people stop at the stand after seeing the cycles and enquire about the facility. I have also had people wanting to rent the cycles. But that will only start from Monday,'' said Suraj Kumar, a security guard manning the station near Siri Fort crossing. Seeing the response, DIMTS is already planning to extend the facility to other BRT stretches even as it hasn't become operational yet.
A spokesperson added: "On Sundays, from 9am to 11.30am, people will be allowed to rent and cycle on the track purely for pleasure. Marshals will be deployed at the corridor for their safety, comfort and convenience. In a month's time, we plan to tie up with one school every month to conduct cycle training sessions for schoolchildren to encourage cycling.''
Original Article sourced from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/DIMTS-starting-facility-to-rent-bikes/articleshow/5320449.cms
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
MCD to raze school, build it again
Friday , Dec 04, 2009
A primary school building of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in Rajouri Garden Extension will be razed to give way to a parking site. And then the building will be re-constructed while students attend classes elsewhere. The project will cost Rs 35 crore and if MCD is to be believed, there will be more such exercises in future to tide over the parking space shortage in the city.
Students from this school are being shifted to another school in the vicinity till MCD finishes construction of the multi-level parking lot, even as officials within the civic agency are raising questions about how the security of so many children will be ensured if outsiders keep entering the premises to park their cars.
Interestingly, in January this year, reacting to a TOI story, MCD had denied plans of using vacant school grounds for commercial purposes even as sources had told this newspaper back then that the civic agency had already identified 60 such schools. In a startling proof of the agency's double-speak, tenders were issued on Thursday for demolishing a functional school in Rajouri Garden Extension. The Delhi High Court, incidentally, had expressed its displeasure over the plan to put vacant school grounds to commercial use in no uncertain terms earlier this year.
The civic agency meanwhile claims that academic activities will not be disrupted and the parking lot will not pose a security threat to children studying in the school as the entry and exit to the lot will be different from that of the school.
Said press and information director, MCD, Deep Mathur: "This school was started a decade ago and is a semi-pucca structure. We will demolish the school building, make an underground parking and construct a multi-storeyed school over it. The students will be sent to another MCD primary school in the area while the construction is going on. We will ensure that the parking lot does not disturb the functioning of the school and does not pose a security problem.'' Many MCD schools are still functioning from tents even though MCD allocates a budget for building permanent structures every year.
A community hall in Subhash Nagar will also be demolished to give way to a parking site and a new hall will be made over it. The project will cost Rs 31 crore. Both the projects will take 18 months to be completed.
The civic agency is now planning to take up similar parking projects in other areas. Said leader of the House Subhash Arya: "We will look into making similar parking sites in other areas if it is required. In Rajouri Garden Extension, there is absolutely no other space where parking provisions can be made. And the situation is really bad. One obviously cannot park on the road and too many times there are fights over parking space.'' According to MCD officials, area councillors have been one of the strongest forces behind pushing through the plan of constructing a parking lot below the school building.
Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/MCD-to-raze-school-build-it-again/articleshow/5297610.cms
A primary school building of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in Rajouri Garden Extension will be razed to give way to a parking site. And then the building will be re-constructed while students attend classes elsewhere. The project will cost Rs 35 crore and if MCD is to be believed, there will be more such exercises in future to tide over the parking space shortage in the city.
Students from this school are being shifted to another school in the vicinity till MCD finishes construction of the multi-level parking lot, even as officials within the civic agency are raising questions about how the security of so many children will be ensured if outsiders keep entering the premises to park their cars.
Interestingly, in January this year, reacting to a TOI story, MCD had denied plans of using vacant school grounds for commercial purposes even as sources had told this newspaper back then that the civic agency had already identified 60 such schools. In a startling proof of the agency's double-speak, tenders were issued on Thursday for demolishing a functional school in Rajouri Garden Extension. The Delhi High Court, incidentally, had expressed its displeasure over the plan to put vacant school grounds to commercial use in no uncertain terms earlier this year.
The civic agency meanwhile claims that academic activities will not be disrupted and the parking lot will not pose a security threat to children studying in the school as the entry and exit to the lot will be different from that of the school.
Said press and information director, MCD, Deep Mathur: "This school was started a decade ago and is a semi-pucca structure. We will demolish the school building, make an underground parking and construct a multi-storeyed school over it. The students will be sent to another MCD primary school in the area while the construction is going on. We will ensure that the parking lot does not disturb the functioning of the school and does not pose a security problem.'' Many MCD schools are still functioning from tents even though MCD allocates a budget for building permanent structures every year.
A community hall in Subhash Nagar will also be demolished to give way to a parking site and a new hall will be made over it. The project will cost Rs 31 crore. Both the projects will take 18 months to be completed.
The civic agency is now planning to take up similar parking projects in other areas. Said leader of the House Subhash Arya: "We will look into making similar parking sites in other areas if it is required. In Rajouri Garden Extension, there is absolutely no other space where parking provisions can be made. And the situation is really bad. One obviously cannot park on the road and too many times there are fights over parking space.'' According to MCD officials, area councillors have been one of the strongest forces behind pushing through the plan of constructing a parking lot below the school building.
Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/MCD-to-raze-school-build-it-again/articleshow/5297610.cms
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