Bigger fine for blocking way of emergency vehicles

Saturday, Nov 06, 2010

Motorists in Delhi who repeatedly block way of emergency vehicles — fire tenders, ambulances, police vans etc — might soon have to pay hefty fines for it. After the success of their experiment of hefty fine on those straying into lanes dedicated for Commonwealth Games-related traffic, the Delhi 

 

traffic police proposed to increase penalty for those who violate traffic rules by "not giving precedence to emergency vehicles". Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Satyendra Garg said,  "The penalty which is now R100 might go up to R2,000."

"We recently sent a proposal about it to the authorities concerned. We hope this will get approvals from all quarters," Garg said.

According to a senior officer of the traffic department, Delhi's lieutenant-governor Tejendra Khanna has already given a verbal nod to the idea of heftier fine.

On September 9, the traffic police conducted a special drive and prosecuted 226 vehicles that violated the norm.

However, in the drive, the motorists only had to pay R100.

"It was the first-of-its-kind drive conducted to help educate people about giving precedence to emergency vehicles," said a senior traffic police officer.

"As per the rules, people should let an emergency vehicle pass on their right. Motorists should move to the left and stop. But Delhiites will not learn a lesson unless you become ruthless."

Original news source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Bigger-fine-for-blocking-way-of-emergency-vehicles/Article1-622890.aspx

Delhi’s traffic plan: Parking meters, more BRT routes

Thursday, Nov 05, 2010



The Delhi government is planning a slew of pilot projects as part of a major consolidated scheme to restrict the rapid growth in the number of vehicles in the city.

Among these are a project in Anand Vihar to test whether it is feasible to discourage families from having multiple vehicles and a proposal to create 20 more Bus Rapid Transit corridors. A third scheme proposes to install parking meters in the busy Lajpat Nagar market for a time-based parking fee, while another proposes levying a congestion fee on trucks that pass through Delhi.

All these pilot projects were part of proposals put up for the state Cabinet's approval on Thursday, but couldn't be discussed. They are likely to come up again when the Cabinet meets next week. The proposals have been made by a 12-member task force, appointed on the High Court's order, which is planning the backbone for all of the city's future transport policies. Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta heads the committee.

"The proposals were approved in principle by the task force over the last few months and the Cabinet must clear them before they can be implemented," an official said on the condition of anonymity.

The pilot project in Anand Vihar involves mapping the entire residential area on Delhi's geospatial map to estimate how much parking space the area has, the official said. Officials then plan to interact extensively with resident welfare associations to arrive at a consensus over how to tackle the fast growing vehicle numbers, given the space constraints. "We can then look at possibilities like charging extra registration fee on vehicles over and above what the area can reasonably accommodate," the official said.

"When a vehicle owner pays for parking at office areas and markets, it is not unreasonable to expect him to pay for parking outside his house. This could discourage families from owning multiple cars," the official said.

Another project is proposed in the busy Lajpat Nagar market where an automobile association and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi plan to install parking meters for a time-based parking fee, an official said.

"This is the first step towards making parking slightly expensive so that people are encouraged to use public transport. The proposal is in a nascent state and we will have to check it on the ground," the official said.

The task force has also proposed for Cabinet approval a report by public infrastructure consultants RITES that it accepted a few months back. The report proposes creating 20 more Bus Rapid Transit corridors, covering over 300 km, in an effort to encourage public transport by providing faster travel to buses.

"We have also proposed to start levying a congestion fee from next year on trucks that will pass through Delhi on the East-West Corridor," an official said.

Original news source http://www.indianexpress.com/news/delhis-traffic-plan-parking-meters-more-brt-routes/707291/0

Women cops give tough time to female drivers

Tuesday, Nov 02, 2010



Woman drivers be-ware; there is a new sheriff in town. The Capital's traffic police who were till now scared of booking female motorists on violation of rules, are now bravely charging them for every traffic violation they commit. Thanks to the 350 odd female traffic constables, who have been able to bring in line the rowdiest of Delhiites. They are the new mascots of womanpower on various intersections of the city.

According to Delhi Traffic Police there has been an increase in the number of female drivers booked for traffic violations. Till now, most of them were left with any action as male traffic police personnel had a problem dealing with them.

"Presence of female constables helps us in dealing with errant female drivers. Their presence has helped us be less vulnerable to accusations of misbehaviour that have been levelled against traffic police personnel in the past," said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

Female traffic personnel have been deployed at intersections all over the city. According to police, there has been a definite increase in not only booking women drivers but also overall challaning in the city.

"As not all violators can be caught, these personnel keep on noting down registration numbers of the vehicles of violators," added Garg.

Female traffic personnel have even got into undercover policing to nab auto-rickshaw drivers who misbehave with woman and overcharge.

"They work in teams who are assigned the duty of booking these men. As female passengers are more susceptible of being harassed by them this method of catching the culprit has helped us," added Garg.

Original news source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Women-cops-give-tough-time-to-female-drivers/Article1-620920.aspx

Need to limit rickshaws in new law: Traffic Police

Tuesday, Nov 02, 2010



The Delhi Traffic Police has proposed that the new law being framed to regulate the Capital's cycle-rickshaws should restrict their numbers in the city. Availability of road and parking space in various city zones should be assessed before granting rickshaw licences, the Traffic Police has said.

While the Traffic police and commuters have often complained that rickshaws disrupt traffic pace on arterial roads and cause jams, in February, the High Court had ruled that any curb on licences issued to cycle rickshaw-pullers violates their right to livelihood as guaranteed by the Constitution and could also affect public transport.

The police's latest proposal is part of the draft Delhi Cycle Rickshaw Act they submitted on Saturday to a government task force that will decide the backbone for all of the city's future transport policies. The 12-member task force that Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta heads was set up earlier this year by the same High Court order that ruled that restrictions on cycle-rickshaws were legally untenable.

In their draft legislation, the police have again proposed a "reasonable restriction" on the overall quota, limiting the number of cycle-rickshaws that can be registered in different zones. "These numbers shall be solely determined by a committee consisting of officers nominated by the government, depending on the demand, carrying capacity of colony roads and availability of parking space," the draft reads.

A senior Traffic Police officer said various court orders empower the police to decide which categories of vehicles can ply in the city and where. Existing laws allow only 99,000 cycle-rickshaws to ply in the city. Delhi, meanwhile, has up to eight lakh rickshaws, as per estimates, with just one out of every eight plying legally.

The transport task force now has two different drafts for the proposed cycle-rickshaw legislation that differ diagonally on whether these vehicles should be restricted or not. The other draft, also presented before the task force on Saturday, clearly states the number of cycle-rickshaws cannot be restricted.

Task force member Madhu Kishwar of advocacy group Manushi, who jointly prepared the other draft with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), calls the Traffic Police's proposal unconstitutional. " If we were to remove cycle-rickshaws forcefully, we'll first have to restrict cars that are clearly far more in number," said Kishwar who attended Saturday's meeting where both the drafts were discussed.

"Besides, it is against consumer interest to limit cycle-rickshaws, which are a crucial last-mile transport option in Delhi," she said.

An informal committee with representatives from Manushi, the Traffic Police and the MCD has now been constituted to reach a consensus, Rakesh Mehta said. "We'll have to make sure whatever we decide should be within the court's judgment," Mehta added.

Original news source http://www.indianexpress.com/news/need-to-limit-rickshaws-in-new-law-traffic-police/705810/0

City's fascination with 'lal batti' irks cops

Sunday, Oct 31, 2010



A senior Delhi traffic police officer on Saturday wrote that his department was facing problems checking illegal use of red beacon lights on vehicles, terming it as a "tendency to look important when one is not".

Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic), wrote on a social networking site that his department recently caught an Ambassador car of a prominent builder of the city with a red beacon light. "A vehicle with red beacon was caught in Mehrauli area. When checked, it was found that the vehicle was a private white ambassador belonging to one prominent builder. The builder had given this vehicle to a politician of a regional party who unauthorisedly put the red beacon and siren," he wrote. The vehicle was impounded and slapped a fine of Rs.2,800. ians

Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Citys-fascination-with-lal-batti-irks-cops/articleshow/6843962.cms#ixzz146IXdE5b

4,000 auto drivers challaned in the capital

Saturday, Oct 30, 2010



As many as 4,000 auto drivers have been issued challans since Oct 28 when a special drive against errant auto drivers was launched.

According to Satyendra Garg, Joint CP Traffic, the violations included permit violations, overcharging, refusal to ferry passengers, jumping red lights and other misbehaviour.

'In three days, about 4,000 prosecutions but they apparently do not bother. What a city we are in,' Garg wrote on Facebook wall of the Delhi Traffic Police (DPT).

He informed that intensive drive against improper parking in the city's markets was also launched Saturday.

'Now festival pressure is on and... there is flagrant improper parking in market places which are over-crowded. We are shifting focus because of security reasons,' he added.

Original news source http://sify.com/news/4-000-auto-drivers-challaned-in-the-capital-news-national-kk4vOefgceg.html

Wall of under-construction parking lot collapses

Saturday, Oct 30, 2010



A portion of a wall of an under-construction underground multi-level parking collapsed near Red Fort on Saturday morning, trapping nine labourers, police said.

The incident took place in Chandni Chowk area near the Parade Ground opposite the historic Red Fort at around 7 am, they said.

Nine labourers trapped inside the debris were rescued. Police are searching the debris to ensure that no one else is still trapped inside.

Original news source http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/delhi-wall-of-under-construction-parking-lot-collapses-63355?trendingnow