Games lane trials give Delhiites the blues

Thursday, Sep 09, 2010



It was 12 noon on Wednesday and seemed the perfect time to make a quick trip to the Commonwealth lanes trial. The event, happening for the first time on a weekday, was much anticipated as the vehicle volume was expected to increase.


Keep to the left: Games lane trials in Delhi on Wednesday.

Luckily, Delhi traffic police kept me updated me with messages and facebook updates about the trials. The trials were held from Commonwealth Games Village -NH24-upto Yamuna Sports Complex, Lodhi Road Madrasa -Lodhi Road flyover, Bhishm Pitamah Marg from T-point Lodhi Road- August Kranti Marg- Sirifort Sports Complex and Ring Road from T-point Bhairon Road upto Rajghat and Ring Road from Chandgi Ram Akhara to Mal Road.

I decided to take the CWG village to Yamuna Sports Complex route, and started my drive from the Akshardham flyover exactly at 12. Not surprisingly, I had to encounter traffic hiccups at the Geeta colony underpass for at least half an hour. The highly dedicated staff from the Delhi traffic police could be seen lined-up on the lanes demarcated for the Games.

At 12:30pm I managed to reach Laxmi Nagar. The traffic was choked for at least 20 more minutes at the Vikas Marg traffic signal. The traffic was choked for at least 20 more minutes at the Vikas Marg traffic signal. All vehicles around me were honking non-stop expecting the red light to turn green.

Amidst the pandemonium I realised that the "Penalty imposed Rs.2000" notice was really working and commuters were abiding by the sign boards that the traffic police had put in place. In between one or two vehicles strayed from their lanes but were "disciplined" by the traffic officials rather amicably.

I lost track of time while travelling from Laxmi Nagar to Preet Vihar, then to Karkardooma; it had taken almost 35 minutes more. It was already 1:10pm when I reached Karkardooma. Yamuna sports complex, which is just 20 minutes drive from Laxmi Nagar, seemed like a light year away. The average stoppage time was nearly 15 minutes and I finally reached my destination at 1:35pm.  Traffic cops had done their job well but there was no escaping the road blues.

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
The Games lane trials on Wednesday were held from Commonwealth Games Village to Yamuna Sports Complex, Lodhi Road Madrasa - Lodhi Road flyover, Bhishma Pitamah Marg from T-point Lodhi Road - August Kranti Marg - Sirifort Sports Complex, Ring Road from T-point Bhairon Road upto Rajghat and Ring Road from Chandgi Ram Akhara to Mall Road. The next trial will be conducted on Thursday at Nizamuddin Bridge - Ring Road-Captain Gaur Marg upto Kalkaji Mandir and Sardar Patel Marg - Mother Teresa Crescent.

Original news source http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/sep/090910-Delhi-Commonwealth-Games-traffic.htm