Saturday, April 16, 2011

Survey to rationalize bus routes

Tuesday, April 12, 2011




If you've been complaining about buses not being available on your route, get online. The Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) is conducting a survey on rationalization of the existing bus routes. The survey, which started on Monday, asks for public opinion on where buses should go, and will try to quantify the frequency of traffic on current routes while identifying new ones.

The survey, for which the transport department of the Delhi government had given the go-ahead some months ago, can be filled not only on the transport department website but also on the DIMTS website (www.dimts.in). The form is a simple questionnaire and asks for modes of travel used by people on the bus routes, including walk trips, as well as the cost of the travel. It also asks for suggestions for improvement along with the frequency of change of buses to reach a destination.

Officials in the transport department admitted that the survey comes after several complaints about a lack of balance in bus routes in the current schedule. According to officials, once the survey has been completed, the findings will be compiled and used to rationalize the existing routes. The rationalization will also focus on the recent alternative modes of transport that have become available, and will do away with the archaic routes. "For instance, routes with Metro corridors will have fewer buses running on them," said the official. At present, the routes are based on manual estimation of bus ridership. However, with an operations control and a data centre coming up soon, all records will be automated and estimates made afresh.

Added a transport official, "The DMRC has also written to the state government to rationalize bus routes where the Metro has its network. We are working on it, and may limit the number of buses in certain routes where the Metro runs," he added. Also in the plans to revamp the transport system is a common ticketing system for Metro and DTC bus services. However, this is expected to take some time.

The survey, which will identify bus travel patterns and revamp the public transport system, will aim to minimize travel time for commuters, make travel seamless with easier changeovers of buses and properly timed frequency of buses. The survey format will register preferred travel patterns as well as the convenience of operators, so that rationalization of the routes can be effected. Once the study is completed, experts will look at the available number of DTC buses under the new cluster scheme and place them accordingly. Officials said currently, there are 650 bus routes, of which, only around 300 are operational. The rest were suspended as they were not feasible.


Posted by Rajeev Lochan Sharma at 2:46 PM 0 comments

Friday, April 15, 2011

DTC buses turning into new 'killers'

Sunday, April 10, 2011




The Delhi-government run buses appear to be turning the 'killer Blueline' way registering almost double the number of fatal accidents in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year.

According to Delhi Police statistics, 21 fatal accidents were reported by Delhi Transport Corporation buses this year till March 31 as against 11 during the corresponding period last year.

"This makes a sharp increase in fatal accidents by DTC buses. People have been raising serious concerns about how dangerously the DTC buses ply on the road and the same is reflected in fatalities caused by these vehicles," Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (Traffic), said.

He pointed out that the strength of DTC buses has gone up but did not feel that it would alone account for the sharp increase in accidents. "Surely the way the DTC buses are being driven leaves much to be desired," he said.

To check the menace, he said, traffic police have prosecuted these vehicles whenever grave violations "come to our notice".

"As against 454 prosecutions in first three month last year, there has been a quantum jump of prosecutions this year to touch 1,799, which is nearly four times than last year," he said.

Police have also impounded 234 DTC buses when violations were serious. Last year, the number of buses impounded were 39 in the same period.

"All these measures and sensitizeing senior officers of DTC about the ground situation, it is hoped, will lead to better situation during the rest of the year. People rightly expect government-owned DTC buses to be model for public transport," he said.

He also pointed out that another menace on the road was the Gramin Sewa autos meant to cater to rural areas.

"These vehicles are flouting all rules of road discipline and beside extreme overcrowding these are menace to safety and traffic flow as well. We are prosecuting them vigorously despite people sometime accusing traffic police of patronising these vehicles.

"I am not denying corrupt traffic police personnel maybe taking money from them but let me mention the prosecutions in last month or so have been 2,961 including 296 cases of impounding," Garg said.

Garg said that when he interacted with presiding magistrates of traffic courts they told him that despite overloading by the Gramin Sewa autos, the officials do not charge them with permit violation.


Posted by Rajeev Lochan Sharma at 2:23 PM 0 comments

HC stays Khan Market parking fee plan

Saturday, April 09, 2011




The Delhi high court on Friday granted a stay on the New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) decision to levy a vehicle parking fee in Khan Market.

Justice S Muralidhar suspended the council's decision, which was to be implemented from next week, on a plea by Khan Market traders.

During the hearing on the traders' plea, the court was surprised to be informed that NDMC has decided to charge for parking on the basis of an instruction from Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA). The EPCA had advised that this will reduce pollution, according to NDMC. The traders wondered what the co-relation between parking fee and pollution was and assailed the decision on this ground, saying the market had till now been held as an example to be followed as far as free parking was concerned.

Arguing for the traders, counsel Sanjiv Sachdeva alleged that "the NDMC's decision is discriminatory as there are various areas in the NDMC zones where free parking is still permitted".

"The market complex is visited by high-profile clientele comprising diplomats, politicians, judges, high government officials and, as a result, the market is under constant scrutiny with regard to the facility and amenities available," the traders added, protesting against the parking fee move.

HC's attention was also drawn to the fact that till now there is no parking mafia in the upscale market but NDMC's attempt to charge for parking might lead to a mafia mushrooming in the area.

Parking at the market has been free for the past 60 years. The tender for the paid parking has been awarded to a private company. In the petition, the traders also sought an order to quash the civic agency's step awarding the tender to a private company to run the paid parking system.


Posted by Rajeev Lochan Sharma at 7:01 AM 0 comments

Friday, April 8, 2011

Driving decorum: Saif to educate motorists

Friday, April 08, 2011




If you want to win some words of praise by none other than Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan, this is just the right time. All that you need to do is follow traffic rules while driving on city roads. On Monday, Saif will educate people about dos and don'ts on the road at Central Delhi. All those who follow traffic norms will receive a card of appreciation from the star himself and may also get a chance to get his/her photograph clicked with the star. The violators, however, would get a lesson from him on importance of following road rules. Saif will be accompanied by a group of traffic police officials on Monday.

"The card will be autographed by Saif Ali Khan himself," said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

According to officials, the star, who has been shooting in Delhi for his forthcoming film Agent Vinod, appreciated the efforts of Delhi Traffic Police to improve traffic management. "He has accepted our proposal to educate motorists," said a senior officer of the traffic department.

Involvement of celebrities in the mission helps a lot. "People, especially the youngsters, tend to make celebrities their role models. It has a huge impact on the youngsters who often violate traffic norms," said Garg.

Recently, when the cricket World Cup fever had gripped the city, traffic department brought legendary players of yesteryears like Kapil Dev, Bishen Singh Bedi, Kirti Azad to educate the people.

However, Saif will be there in Central Delhi on Monday sometime during noon. Traffic police, however, would decide the locations on Monday itself after observing traffic situation.


Posted by Rajeev Lochan Sharma at 3:17 AM 0 comments

Delhi may soon levy congestion fee on vehicles

Friday, April 08, 2011




Delhi may soon become the first city in the country to levy congestion charges on vehicles following the recommendation of a special team constituted by the Delhi High Court to address the capital's growing traffic woes. Delhi has almost 70 lakh vehicles, which is more than what the other three metros together have. 

Plus, there are 11 lakh vehicles entering the capital everyday from adjoining towns, slowing average speed on its roads to a crawling 12 kmph. The best way to deal with it is to slap a traffic congestion fee on vehicles that will encourage people to use public transport, feels the high-power special task force, constituted by the high court to minimise congestion, reduce pollution and ensure equitable access to all classes of vehicles. 

"There is congestion and we are looking at various things to reduce it," Delhi's Principal Secretary and Transport Commissioner RK Verma told ET. "We are studying in detail the plans for congestion charges which are at a conceptual stage," he added. Government officials said that the special team has proposed different options to introduce the congestion charges in the city based on the principle of "those who congest must pay". 

Among the options being looked at include targeting the large number of outstation vehicles entering the city with entry charges and levying entry fees and increasing parking charges at central business districts such as Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar and Karol Bagh. The congestion charge will minimise use of personal transport in favour of public transport systems like metro, buses, rail and BRT which despite rapid expansions in the recent past has failed to curb growth of private cars, which consume one-tenth of Delhi's space for parking. 

By imposing congestion charges, Delhi will join the league of modern cities like London, Beijing and Singapore that have imposed heavy congestion charges during peak hours, high road tax and restricting registration of new vehicles to discourage private vehicles. In London, motorists pay £10 daily to travels to central city between 7am and 6 pm. Cities such as Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore too are expected to impose congestion charges on vehicles soon. The Delhi government has already implemented a multipronged strategy to deal with traffic blues including developing public transport systems such as metro rail and modern bus transport system and increasing registration and taxation of personal vehicles significantly last year. 

Experts, however, believe that the implementation of the congestion charge will be hampered by lack of technical expertise like a comprehensive electronic data of all vehicle and computerised levy collections. "We lack the technical means to collect fee and other charges from personal motorised transport," said Madhu Kiswar of Manushi Sangathan, a Delhi-based NGO working in mobility. "The growing numbers of private vehicle are difficult to manage and adding to it massive government-owned vehicle in the Capital will further burden any such system." 

Traffic Rules 

Congestion charge will minimise use of personal transport in favour of public transport systems like Metro , buses, rail and BRT . 

A special team has proposed different options to introduce the congestion charges in the city based on the principle of "those who congest must pay" . 

By imposing congestion charges, Delhi will join the league of modern cities such as London, Beijing and Singapore.


Posted by Rajeev Lochan Sharma at 3:16 AM 0 comments

Parking: Khan Market traders move HC

Friday, April 08, 2011




Traders from Khan Market in the capital have approached the Delhi High Court challenging the New Delhi Municipal Council's decision to charge money for parking vehicles at the market from next week. 

Justice S Muralidhar, before whom the petition came up for hearing on Thursday, posted the matter for Friday while directing the counsel for NDMC to seek instructions from the department on the issue. 

Filing a petition through counsel Sanjiv Sachdeva, the Khan Market traders' association has questioned the logic behind NDMC's move, arguing that "the NDMC's decision is discriminatory as there are various areas in the NDMC zones where free parking is still permitted." 

"The market complex is visited by high-profile clients including diplomats, politicians, judges, high government officials, and because of this the market is under constant scrutiny with regard to facilities and amenities available with the market," the traders said, protesting the move to introduce parking fee. 


Posted by Rajeev Lochan Sharma at 3:16 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Taking picture of vehicle must before towing

Thursday, April 07, 2011




After getting many complaints against cops demanding bribes with threats of towing away vehicles , Delhi Traffic Police have asked all contractors who provide cranes to the department to come equipped with a digital camera. 

"Starting Friday, it will become mandatory for traffic personnel to take a picture of the vehicle errantly parked before attempting to tow it away. Towing a vehicle without taking a picture will be illegal. This will not just ensure that no bribes are taken by the traffic cops, but also help in keeping proof of the errant vehicle, if required," explained joint commissioner of police (traffic) Satyendra Garg. 

In a new order issued to the dozen-odd private contractors who supply the 58 cranes to Delhi Traffic Police, both the contractor as well as the traffic personnel will become liable if they attempt to tow a vehicle without taking a picture of the vehicle first. Each of the contractors signed the new contract on Monday. 

"It has been found that traffic constables demand bribe in exchange of not towing away an errantly parked vehicle or threaten to tow away a vehicle if not given a bribe even if the vehicle is not flouting any norms. The new order should be able to curb the problem," explained a senior traffic police officer. 

The move comes after a traffic constable Sukhram, posted in East of Kailash area, was caught red-handed taking a bribe after a Facebook user tipped off senior traffic officials of the incident. 

The traffic cop was spotted taking a bribe from a building contractor to stop the towing of a cement mixer in East of Kailash by a citizen who posted the same on the Delhi Traffic Police Facebook page. The corrupt cop was caught red-handed with the bribe of Rs 1000. Cops said the bribe had been recovered and departmental action has been initiated against the corrupt cop and two of his superiors. "While Sukhram was placed under suspension, action was initiated action against the ZO and TI for allowing cement mixers to be there during no-entry timings and not ensuring that cranes work for the right purpose ," explained JCP Garg.


Posted by Rajeev Lochan Sharma at 10:13 PM 0 comments
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