Delhi may soon follow the london model of levying congestion charge for driving a vehicle through designated roads, in a bid to reduce clogging of streets with traffic. The Delhi Traffic Police was on Friday directed to carry out a study to explore the feasibility of levying congestion charge and introducing one-way traffic on roads in the national Capital.
lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal held a meeting with officials of the Delhi Traffic Police and other agencies such as the Public Works Department and municipal corporations on the matter.
“Delhi Traffic Police will get a detailed study carried out on Delhi roads where the congestion charge or the one-way traffic system can be implemented,” said Dependra Pathak, the Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and chief spokesperson of the Delhi Police. “There are certain roads, which remain congested despite alternative routes being available. Congestion charge on such roads will ease traffic and prompt people to use alternative routes,” Pathak said.
An electronic system, like the ones in london and Singapore, will be introduced for smooth implementation of congestion charge, if the study finds it feasible. The meeting also discussed the possibility of introducing one-way traffic on certain roads.
“All roads of Delhi have a two-way traffic system which means that only one half of the road is available for traffic. We will have to see where the one-way traffic system can be implemented to ease traffic on congested roads and for effective traffic movement,” Pathak said.
Meanwhile, the l- G called for dissemination of real-time information about the traffic situation through FM radio, traffic police website/apps and social media. Chairing a meeting to review measures for decongestion of traffic observed from “Y” point Salimgarh Bypass to Majnu Ka Tila on Ring Road, here on Friday, Baijal directed all agencies concerned to take necessary steps to smooth en the vehicular traffic.
The l-G also suggested exploring the possibility of making some stretches/roads one way after a conducting a study in this regard. Baijal further observed that at the points where there is merging of traffic, no bottlenecks should be created and all road engineering proposals must take this aspect into consideration while preparation of their Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). The l-G directed all concerned agencies to study the measures suggested and revert with those found feasible for implementation.
The l-G further observed that at the points where there is merging of traffic, no bottlenecks should be created and all road engineering proposals must take this aspect into consideration while preparation of their DPRs. The l-G further stated that for better use of FOBs and in view of the need of our senior citizens, all the FOBs should mandatorily have lift facilities.
Officials said the traffic volume as well as pedestrian movement especially near the Old Hanuman Temple, Yamuna Bazar, Maharana Pratap ISBT and opposite Monastery Market is very high and this stretch of Ring Road becomes extremely congested from the traffic point of view.