Alleging that the Delhi Government did not hold any consultation with police before announcing the ambitious Car-Free Day, the Delhi Police has denied permission to hold the event planned for October 22, which also happens to be day of Dussehra celebrations.
Calling the decision to hold the event on the day of Dussehra as “hasty and impractical”, Police Commissioner BS Bassi wrote a letter to Chief Secretary KK Sharma that the proposed car-free stretch from lal Qila to India Gate is home to some of Delhi’s most popular and traditional Ram lilas where people go out with their families on the day.
Reacting to the Delhi Police’s objection, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that since Car-Free Day aims to encourage people to use public transport and reduce pollution level to make Delhi’s air clean, “ego of politics” should not come in the way of accomplishing that. Sources said that Rai may soon meet lt-Governor Najeeb Jung and take up the “unjustified” move by the Delhi Police.
Having been at loggerheads in the past over several issues, the move may trigger a fresh round of confrontation between the Kejriwal-led Government and the city police.
In his letter to the Chief Secretary, Bassi wrote, “Surprisingly, there was no prior consultation with the Delhi Police before taking the decision for holding such an event or regarding the suitability of the date proposed… The choice of date i.e. October 22, 2015 for such an event seems to be hasty and quite impractical. It is the day of Dussehra festival which people celebrate by going out in large number with their families. The proposed Car-Free stretch from lal Qila to India Gate is home to some of Delhi’s most popular and traditional Ram lilas.”
Bassi also said that there will also be Durga idol immersion at Yamuna ghats in good numbers on October 22. “These occasions demand massive police arrangements — including police patrolling all over the city for safety and security of citizens and maintaining law and order. Besides, there will also be VVIP movements on that day which require special requirements,” the Delhi top cop said.
Bassi also said the Delhi Police, being the primary agency responsible for regulation of traffic in the city, is the first stakeholder in any such event which has a direct impact on the smooth flow of traffic and needs to be consulted before organising such event.
The Government has said that it is not the only stakeholder to hold Car-Free Day, but MCD, DDA, city police are also part of it. “There are several agencies like DDA, MCD and police which have the similar responsibility to make the Government’s Car-Free Day a success. The Government will hold consultations with concerned agencies to observe it. Additional Commissioner (Traffic) was also present in the meeting wherein the decision to hold this event was taken,” Rai said.
Car-Free Day was planned by the City Government to be held on the stretch between the Red Fort and the India Gate. In view of heavy traffic on October 22, the Delhi Government recently took a decision to hold the event from 7 am to 12 noon.
However, the Delhi Police Commissioner said that roads for such an event have to be very carefully chosen. The major arterial roads and important intersections have to be avoided since their closure to private cars etc, will shift the traffic load to other adjoining roads choking the rest of Delhi, added he.
“For example, the ITO Crossing falling on the presently route (between Red Fort and India Gate), is such an important artery for Delhi traffic that any restrictions there will throw the entire traffic out of gear in a widespread area… Similarly, the C-Hexagon roads around India Gate cannot be closed even for a minute without having a cascading affect on the incoming traffic from all directions. The route proposed by the GNCTD from Red Fort to India Gate will also affect the movement of judges of Supreme Court & High Court and other dignitaries in the area, due to proximity of important Government offices, media houses etc,” Bassi said in his letter.
The Delhi Police has asked the AAP Government to choose suitable alternative route for this event on some other non-working day on the road stretch between Chhatta Rail and Delhi Gate Crossing, but Government sources said that it is not interested in alternative route offered by the force.