Encroachments on 28 stretches in Delhi removed, traffic congestion to lessen

Will the residents of Delhi be spared of the traffic jams?

Ajay Kumar
New Delhi, October 15, 2017 | UPDATED 05:43 IST
The remaining 49 stretches are expected to be unclogged by the end of this year.The remaining 49 stretches are expected to be unclogged by the end of this year.

With an aim to unclog traffic movement on various roads of national Capital, the traffic police department and Municipal Corporation of Delhi finally geared up to remove encroachments on 28 stretches, including nine heavily congested roads in south and south-east.

The drive started after L-G Anil Baijal directed these departments. The traffic and MCD have removed 178 fixed encroachments on 28 stretches and also challaned 768 offenders for their movable encroachments. Traffic cops have also issued 193 notices to offenders who have violated norms by placing makeshift commercial outlets on the roadside.

"We have studied that 77 stretches have encroachments which is obstructing widening of roads and hence leading to daily traffic congestion. The study reports are sent to the L-G office for an approval early this year. Now, we have received directions from the L-G office and jointly started an anti-encroachment drive on 28 busy stretches in phase-I," said a senior traffic officer.

Mail Today had reported about 77 congested stretches on September 28, 2017, responsible for traffic snarls during peak and non-peak hours.

The official pointed out how civic agencies have fixed the vulnerabilities on only four of the sections of stretches and remaining 73 are being simply untouched.

The two departments have unclogged various places, including 25 obstructions on Aurobindo Marg between Aurobindo Chowk to Ardheria Mor at Haus Khas, Defence Colony and Saket, and issued 168 challans to offenders. They have also removed encroachments from two places on outer ring road, one on ring road, one at Sahid Jagat Narayan Marg, Vikash Marg and GT Road.

"As per the plan, we want to remove all encroachments or obstructions in phases and hand over to the PDW. These stretches are recommended for widening of roads and construction works will be done by PWD. The three departments are working in tandem to widen up roads as much as we can with aim to provide maximum space to commuters," the traffic official said.

"The remaining 49 stretches will be addressed in two or three more phases in coming days and we are hopeful to unclog all encroachments till the end of this year," he added.