The Delhi Government’s proposal to have a mdedicated lane during emergency has failed to find favour with Traffic Police. The deputy commissioners (Revenue) have sent a proposal for creation of an emergency lane last year, but nothing has happened and traffic police did not even respond.
The Delhi Government has identified 162 roads in which emergency lanes will be reserved on the extreme right for plying of ambulance, fire-tenders and other emergency services vehicles. The issue is likely to be discussed at a meeting with deputy
commissioners (Revenue) on Wednesday.
Principal Secretary (Revenue) Dharampal told The Pioneer that the issue is likely to be discussed at the meeting with DCs on Wednesday. “The response of traffic police is not encouraging on this issue,” said Dharampal, adding that DCs would be directed to take up the issue with traffic police on priority basis.
As per plan, the Government will put in place an emergency public warning system under which sirens will be installed across the city and restrictions on movement of vehicles in emergency lanes will come into effect once the sirens are sounded.
“In case of a disaster, sirens will be blown and immediately, the dedicated lanes will have to be left for vehicles under the emergency response system,” Dharampal said.
The emergency lanes will be painted blue and during normal days there will be no restrictions on plying of vehicles in them.
Officials said countries like the US, the UK, Canada and Italy have similar emergency lanes and the Delhi Government has decided to go for them as part of efforts to strengthen the disaster management system in the city.
Major roads identified for the emergency lanes include August Kranti Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Jail Road, Pankha Road, Noida link Road, Rohtak road and Vikas Marg. However, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla said that it is not possible to provide a dedicated emergency lane for a longer period.
“They have asked the government to identify hospitals so that emergency lanes could be earmarked for movement of emergency vehicles. They have also asked to conduct a survey and identify hospitals for emergency purposes and we are ready to provide dedicated lane to those hospitals only,” he said. “Heavy vehicular movement and limited road space in the city does not provide creation of an emergency lane,” Shukla said.
Separate lanes on arterial roads were kept during Commonwealth Games in 2010 for transporting players and officials and it was successful. Though the amount of fine for straying on to the emergency lanes has not been finalised yet, officials said the penalty will be “heavy”.
The proposal was first put forth by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority and officials said penalty will be imposed on the violators as per provision of the Delhi Disaster Management Act.