The Hindu : New Delhi News : Inside Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Inside Delhi

More steps needed for smooth traffic

If reining in over-speeding vehicles is important, then it is equally essential that the Delhi traffic police prevent very slow-moving vehicles from occupying road space. While most motorists would admit that rashly driven fast vehicles, especially big taxis, are a major nuisance on the roads, an equal number would probably agree that even the presence of slow-moving three-wheelers that block the roads as they move side by side is no less unnerving.

What usually happens when such three-wheelers prevent vehicles from overtaking is that many of the motorists tend to swerve in order to move ahead. In doing so, they disturb the lane driving and pose a major threat to other vehicles, especially two-wheelers, moving in their own lane.

So it has become imperative that the traffic police keep the right lane free for relatively fast-moving vehicles. This would not only ensure lane driving but also prevent accidents.

Also, in many places, cycle-rickshaws are seen moving down busy roads and highways on which their entry is officially banned. During hours when movement of commercial vehicles on certain roads is restricted, traders seem to have found a way around the rules by using these cycle-rickshaws for ferrying goods. But not only do these cycle-rickshaws flout the rules, very often they are also seen moving down the wrong side on the roads for taking a short cut to their destinations.

While the rickshaw-pullers cannot be blamed for taking a shorter route in the scorching heat, the practice can be stopped if the traders sending the goods through them on forbidden roads are booked and penalised.

-- Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Storm hits

vehicle owners

As the dust storm on Sunday afternoon played havoc with the city and heavy rain flooded the streets, it was not merely the commuters who had to bear the brunt of nature's fury. Apart from causing traffic jams, the fallen trees also gave a few vehicle owners reason to rue. Some of the branches came crashing down on parked and running vehicles, causing considerable damage to them.

When a friend went to a car dealer for repairs to his vehicle on Sunday evening, he could see quite a few sullen-faced car owners and they all blamed the dust storm for the sorry state of their vehicles. That's when another man drove in with his car's front windscreen shattered. The culprit was again a heavy branch that chose to fall at the wrong moment.

The man's agony was compounded by the fact that it was a brand new car.

-- P. Anima

A menace

Waiting at a traffic signal or for someone at a market place can be quite a painful experience if the city's beggars decide to harass you. They will do and say anything to extract money from people.

The other day when a friend was driving to office, two little children fell on the bonnet of her car and with folded hands began asking for alms. She decided to stay calm and signalled them to get up. When the traffic light turned green, she pressed the horn, but the children refused to move. It was only when she rolled down her window and screamed at them that they budged.

Similarly, a group of friends had a harrowing experience at a well-known market place in South Delhi recently. They were waiting outside a cinema hall when an elderly woman approached them and asked for money. They decided to ignore the woman and moved a little ahead, but to no avail. The old lady continued to hound them. It was when she began tugging at their clothes and touching their feet that they gave in and handed her some money.

As if that was not enough, a child then approached them. Pointing at the soft drink can that one of them was holding, he said he wanted to drink it. He left sulking when the friends threatened to call the police.

It is time that the authorities addressed the issue of begging more seriously.

-- Parul Sharma

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