Nagpur: Expressing concern over the delay in setting up of traffic booths in the middle of city squares, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Wednesday directed the civic body to take a policy decision in this regard in eight weeks.
Earlier, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) traffic engineer Shakil Niyazi filed an affidavit stating that out of 86 sites identified for setting up of traffic booths, 28 sites belonged to the civic body. About 27 sites are below the MahaMetro lines and flyovers, and 24 are under state Public Works Department (PWD) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Remaining sites are outside Nagpur city limits.
Niyazi informed that a proposal submitted by Varsha Outdoor Advertising Private Limited for erecting and maintaining traffic booths with advertisements in the middle of roads was discussed in the corporation meetings.
As per the advertising policy of NMC, no site can be given licence for more than three years and Rohit Ahuja of the agency wanted the site for a minimum of 25 years.
“As a result, the talks with Ahuja have not progressed any further. The other option available with NMC is to invite Expression of Interest (EOI) from various parties for erecting traffic booth in the middle of squares with/without advertisement. It will take at least three months’ time to select the successful bidder,” Niyazi said.
This decision would be subjected to any of the directions passed by this court, Niyazi added.
The affidavit was filed in response to two suo motu PILs (No. 5/2016 and No. 7/2019), where Shreerang Bhandarkar was appointed amicus curiae, assisted by Nidhi Dayani.
In the last hearing, a division bench comprising justices Sunil Shukre and Avinash Gharote directed NMC to inform the court on the time needed to set up 86 traffic booths at major squares to regulate traffic. The civic body was further told to submit details about the number of cameras installed at all squares, and how many of them were functional.
Replying to it, NMC in its affidavit mentioned that 3,669 CCTV cameras were installed all over the city. “Out of these, 274 cameras are presently non-functional due to the developmental activities of MahaMetro, state PWD and cement road construction work. As soon as these works are completed they would be made operational,” Niyazi informed.
The traffic engineer added that NMC had issued a communication on December 18 to the vice-president of Urban Mass Transit Company Limited in Hyderabad. The firm prepared a comprehensive mobility plan for MahaMetro, and a street parking management plan for the city.
The civic body sought the firm’s opinion about the permissibility of installing elevated traffic booths along with the advertisements.
The firm’s response placed reliance on the ‘Guidelines on regulation and control of mixed traffic in urban areas (first revision)’, which address the issue through multi-functional zones. These guidelines, however, do not refer to any traffic control booths in the middle of the road, Niyazi said.
NMC speaks
• Out of 86 sites identified for setting up of traffic booths, 28 sites belonged to civic body
• About 27 sites below MahaMetro lines and flyovers, 24 under PWD & NHAI
• 3,669 CCTV cameras installed all over city
• 274 cameras non-functional due to developmental activities