Daily commuters feel crossing the stretch between Andrews Ganj and AIIMS flyovers can take up to 30 minutes during off-peak hours as well. Even the eight-laned road is unable to take the load of vehicles passing on it. ``The traffic speed gets reduced even before the Andrews Ganj flyover starts and the jams lasts till AIIMS. One can't figure any cause for this -- the sheer volume of traffic is so much that every vehicle is fighting for its space on the road,'' feels Ridhima Pant, a designer based in Kotla.

As Delhi Metro construction is causing jams on Aurobindo Marg and the BRT corridor has choked JB Tito Marg, the middle road -- Khelgaon Marg -- seems to have become the preferred route for traffic bound for/from south Delhi and Gurgaon. For this, the route between Moolchand and AIIMS forms an important interchange. ``To avoid the Yusuf Sarai jams, I prefer South Ex and Siri Fort route to get to Gurgaon. While the Ring Road is congested, at least the state of the road is not as bad,'' said RK Dewan, a resident of Bengali Market.

The market in South Extension and the major bus stops add to the jams on the main road. Bus commuters tend to wait on the road, consequently, buses stop in the middle of the road too. This blocks the way of other traffic using the road. Shoppers flagging down autos on the main road is a common sight, in spite of a prepaid booth in the market. This causes further congestion as autos weave through the traffic to reach the commuters.

The jams are common throughout the day, as there is office-rush in the morning and evening. Ring road gets a lot of commercial traffic after 11 am. At night too, there is very heavy movement of trucks.

The traffic police say they are aware of the problem and contend the main cause for it is increased traffic volume. ``In the last few months, the volume of traffic using Khelgaon Marg and Ring Road at South Extension has increased by nearly 40 per cent. The state of the road was bad, causing traffic to slow down. We have also initiated other measures like deploying extra staff near the bus stops to ensure the buses stop in the designated bus bays and commuters don't stand on the main road. Unauthorised parking is also being checked,'' said a senior traffic police official.

The Corporation will set up its own hot mix plant in Faridabad. "Contractors are given contracts for a stretch of road and are unwilling to fill potholes unless they are given a contract for the entire stretch. With our own plant, we will be able to handle the problem of potholes in a better way," a Corporation official said.

The Delhi High Court had in 1998 ordered that hot mix plants be shifted out of Delhi. There are about a dozen plants along the borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

Most of them are owned by agencies that are into road construction, and the Corporation, which has 16,000 km of road with itself, has to depend on them for its roads.

After the 1998 High Court order was passed, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was to lay down guidelines for the setting up of hot mix plants in Delhi but no guidelines have been drawn up in the last ten years. "The Corporation will approach the High Court on this matter. We want the court to give a time-bound direction to the CPCB, so that we can take up this work. We face this problem every monsoon and till the time there is a direction from CPCB, we can't work towards this solution," MCD Standing Committee chairman Vijendar Gupta said.

The Corporation has also proposed that trucks, which carry the mixture from the hot mix plants to construction sites, should be covered. During the winter months, it is difficult to carry on with road construction. "By the time the hot mix is transported from the plant to the site, it cools down a bit. The cold tar doesn't stick and hold on to the road. Consequently, the road can't handle heavy traffic," an officer of the engineering department said.

The Corporation is now working on a new plan. In new specifications for road contractors, which will be out soon, the contractors will need to have closed trucks for transporting the mixture. "Though they cover the truck with a plastic sheet, the practice is not very effective," the engineer said.

"Work on the Faridabad plant will start soon. We hope that by next year there will be fewer potholes on Corporation roads," Gupta said.

If the new National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) User Fee Rules, to be placed before the Cabinet on Thursday, gets the go-ahead, two laned NHs will be tolled and the toll rates will be enhanced for all projects costing more than Rs 50 crore. The new set of rules have also recommended reducing the number of dignitaries to be exempt from paying toll. The exemption is likely to be limited to those holding constitutional offices and ministerial positions.

Government sources said the new rules stipulate slab-wise toll rates dependent on project cost. On all new two laning projects to be built on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) format, user fee imposed would be 60 per cent of the toll charges imposed on fourlane National Highways. The ambit of the clause enlarges when seen against the backdrop of the Government policy to take up all new infrastructure projects on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) basis.

While 25,000 km of NHs under phases I, II and III are already set to be tolled, another 20,000 km would be covered under NHDP IV which envisages two laning of all single-lane NHs. This will bring 45,000 km of the 70,000 km National Highways under tolls.

The ministry has downplayed the move saying it will only be introduced where there is a private player who comes forward to upgrade a single lane NH on BOT basis and the move will help upgrade neglected NH sections as well.

Here's good news for the residents of E Block East of Kailash who have been grappling with bad roads and non-functional drainage systems in their colony for quite a long time now. Finally, after years of complaining and making rounds of MCD offices, combined tenders of Rs 90 lakhs have been sanctioned by MCD for dense carpeting of roads at E block in East of Kailsh and Ashoka Road in New Friends colony.

Almost all the roads in the colony have been in pathetic condition. The bitumen were all worn out, roads full of potholes and there was no repairing work happening for quite some time. "From our side we persistently tried to follow up the matter with the MCD officials. Finally after all the hard work they have invited tenders for the potholed roads of our colony. Although we are happy about it but we are still worried as the work has not been started here," says I K Ramani, president of RWA East of Kailsh E Block."

While talking to SDP, Ramesh Kumar, executive engineer of Engineering Department, MCD, further added, `Now the file is with finance department. From there it will go to MCD Standing Committee for final approval. Once the Standing Committee forwards it to us, we will start working within ten days. Hopefully, the work will start by the end of November."

Though quite happy with the latest developments on this front, the residents feel that the work should start as soon as possible. "MCD is already two months late. It is really difficult for us to use these colony roads. While walking on the road of colony one needs to be really careful. Every now and then our children fall down and hurt themselves while walking on these roads," complains Nita, a housewife.

`Installation work will be completed much ahead of the Commonwealth Games'

The new lights will offer enhanced and even illumination on the roads

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government's Power Department says the work of installing new streetlights to brighten the Capital's roads will be completed much ahead of the Commonwealth Games in October 2010.

The department has begun the process of replacing old and malfunctioning streetlights with new lights that meet "international standards".

According to Power Department officials, new streetlights are currently being installed at various placed across the city and going by the pace of work, the project will be complete by June 2009. While 15 km of road space has been covered in East Delhi, in South Delhi, work is in progress at Africa Avenue and adjoining areas.

"As on date work is in progress along 240 km of the total 340 km. By the time the Commonwealth Games begin, Delhi will have world class streetlights that meet global standards," said S.R.Sethi, Director (Operations) Delhi Transco Limited and the chairperson of the committee that was set up to give inputs on improving street lighting in the city.

The new lights will offer enhanced and even illumination on the roads. "As against 15-20 lux, these new lights will have a higher light level of 35-40 lux and lights will be evenly spread on the roads. The lights itself are being stationed on galvanised poles instead of being dug into the ground to save them from getting corroded," explained Mr. Sethi.

The lights are being installed by private companies who have also been entrusted with the work of maintaining them for a period of five years.

"The companies will be paid only after thorough inspection and certification. The working of these lights will be automated and these can also be operated using a remote from a central control room," said Mr. Sethi.

The decision to replace the existing streetlights with new ones was taken in view of the Commonwealth Games in 2010 by the Delhi Government.

The committee chaired by Mr. Sethi which included members of the International Lighting Association and other experts, in its report had classified roads into different categories and prepared luminance criteria based on peak and off-peak traffic conditions.

These ventures account for about 40 per cent of projects worth Rs 25,000 crore that have been sanctioned by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), according to data from the National Highway Builders Federation (NHBF), which represents highway construction companies.

The availability of bank finance is critical to such projects because debt typically accounts for 70-75 per cent of a highway project's cost.

The higher interest rates could require infrastructure companies to pay an additional Rs 350 crore (5 per cent of Rs 7,000 crore being the additional interest outgo) as a result.

Banks usually provide loans to highway developers over 12- or 13-year periods that almost cover the concession period of 15 to 20 years. If the debt:equity ratio is 80:20, the company will initially be asked to come up with half the equity portion upfront. Both bank and the company then plough in the remaining amount in equal proportions.

Once the construction of the project is complete, the company will be provided a moratorium of six months to a year on the principal, which means the company is required to pay only the interest. Repayment of the principal and interest kicks in thereafter.

"Banks that have made long-term commitments are finding it difficult to keep them owing to the credit market crisis," admitted Sanjay Sethi, executive-director & head, Infrastructure Group, Kotak Investment Banking.

This decision was taken in a meeting of senior officers of the public works department of the Delhi government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

Chief secretary of the Delhi government, Rakesh Mehta presided over the meeting.

The move follows severe criticism received by the authorities over the pathetic condition of city roads this monsoon season.

Some of the roads were constructed recently, but could not stand incessant rain.

It was decided that initially 400 km of road would be constructed. Of this, 200 km would be constructed by the public works department, 100 by the MCD and the remaining 100 km would be constructed by the NDMC.

GT Road, a 7.5 km-long road running between the eastern fringe of old Yamuna Bridge and Apsara border connecting UP and Delhi, is soon going to undergo an expensive makeover. This makeover promises to unclog this nasty arterial connection Delhi has with its eastern neighbour. This six-lane (at certain points) stretch will soon be converted into an 8-lane one flanking around 45 meters sidewise. The entire cost, a whopping Rs 30.33 crore, of this long-awaited comprehensive project will be borne by MCD under its budgetary provision under Audit LA Road.

 "Apart from facing the huge pressure of traffic, the area has witnessed a rapid growth along this road in the recent past. This has led to the growth of highly populated upscale residential blocks in the region. Besides in any case this area is also one of the oldest routes used by people commuting between ISBT and Seemapuri end," said Divya Jaisawal, deputy mayor of Delhi while elaborating on the salient features of this mega project.
She assured that the work will start soon. MCD has already sanctioned funds for this project. Apart from a separate cycle track and service lane, this road will have everything its cousins have in the west. Lieutenant Governor has already given his approval so work will start soon, deputy mayour assured.

Though expensive, this would stop complaints of bumpy rides and waterlogging, officials said.

Concrete roads last around 10 years as against the bitumen roads that last an average of three years.

A Cemented road at dhaula kuan. More of these will soon be seen all over the City.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the chief secretary of Delhi on Friday The civic agency will begin with constructing 200 kilometres of concrete roads.

"The material used for bitumen roads - the hot mix - does not hold well and gives way under water This causes waterlogging, which in turn leads to traffic jams. We have decided to replace all such roads with concrete," said MCD Commissioner K.S. Mehra.

The budget and the areas to be taken up are being worked out by the civic agency The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), too, will construct nearly 100 kilometres of cement roads with a budget of Rs 100 crore. These roads willbe con- structed mainly inside colonies, by-lanes and the outer circle of Connaught Place.

The civic agency has been at the receiving end for poor maintenance of roads for quite some time, a fact highlighted by Hindustan Times.

Recently the high court too sought a report from the civic agency on action taken against errant engineers responsible for the bad condition of roads.

"The traffic police comes out with a list of troubled spots during monsoon.

Our engineering team will confirm those areas and they will be replaced in phases," said Mehra.

A presentation of yet another plan for a flyover at the busy ITO crossing was made before the cabinet on Wednesday, after which the government has given an inprinciple approval and sought a feasibility study for the alternative.

According to the new proposal, the flyover will start after Tilak bridge and end near TOI building on Bahadurshah Zafar Marg. This time, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor will run over the flyover.

The traffic police feel there's no need for this flyover, as the East West corridor will take the major traffic load

DECONGESTING ITO

• Will start after Tilak bridge and end near TOI building on Bahadurshah Zafar Marg
  
• BRT corridor will run over the flyover
  
• Will be a straight and short flyover

• The elevated East-West corridor will cross Tilak Marg before the elevation of the new flyover will start

• PWD to look into alternatives before starting preparation of estimates and final drawings

The Public Works Department (PWD) is constructing the underpass with cloverleaves to make the Chungi signal-free before the 2010 games. The first trial runs for the diversion had started in April. But due to reasons like repeated congestion due to heavy vehicular and bad condition of the slip road towards Geeta Colony the diversions were not finalised.

"When both the slip roads - one each on the south and north side - were found proper, we put in place the diversions to start work for the underpass," said traffic police chief S.N. Shrivastava. Work has started on the south carriageway, i.e., the corridor between ITO and the Chungi. Once this is complete, work will start on the north carriageway The PWD is likely to complete work on one side in about three months and in another three months, work on the other side will be taken up.

Following a meeting over the weekend, Finance Minister A.K. Walia announced that the Delhi Government in order to provide safe passage to pedestrians across the city had decided to construct more foot over-bridges. The new over-bridges would be completed within 12 months.

The new over-bridges would be pedestrian-friendly, modern and longer-lasting. According to Dr. Walia, care would be taken that aged persons are able to make use of them without any difficulty.

The new over-bridges would be constructed on Mehrauli-Mahipalpur Road, Moti Bagh across Ring Road, Shaheen Bagh on Road No.13-A, Mansarovar Garden, Nehru Nagar, Maa Anandmayee Ashtam at Kalkaji DTC Bus Depot, Bala Sahab Gurdwara near DESU Colony, Hauz Rani Park across M.B. Road, Wazirpur Industrial Area T-point, Moti Nagar T-Point, Shalimar Bagh near Kendriya Vidyalaya, Britannia Chowk, Punjab Kesari, Road No.43 near Shakur Basti railway station, Rani Bagh, Vishwas Nagar across Road No.57, Hasanpur across Road No.57, Sarita Vihar (Road No.13-A) and Prahladpur across M.B. Road.

In fact, the road began to show cracks in the very first week of its opening. Work on the other lane of the flyover, that began about three months later, is still on.

A large number of vehicles ply on this flyover. The Public Works Department (PWD) has failed to maintain the newly constructed flyover. After some complaints, minor repair work was done on the road but that was not enough for the entire stretch.

Manoj Kumar, a resident of Mandoli, says, "Potholes on main roads and flyovers have become a common problem for Delhiites. These pits are not filled up for months and this often results in accidents." This is an important stretch for thousands of commuters but the potholes slow down vehicular speed and make the ride bumpy.

They also cause damage to the vehicles.

Besides, the road under the flyover is also in a bad shape. During the rains the entire stretch gets waterlogged and drivers have to wade through knee-deep water.

The commuters' woes do not end here. Ever since one lane was opened, traffic from the opposite side has also begun to enter from the wrong side. Not only does this cause a traffic snarl on the flyover, it has also increased the possibility of accidents. Commuters use the wrong side mainly during peak hours.

"The PWD had repaired the flyover a few weeks ago but due to rain some parts have been damaged again.

We will repair the entire stretch within a week," said Umesh Mishra, Project Manager, PWD.

Once full of business activity, the sealing ordered by the Delhi High Court brought this road to a standstill. The court order led to closure of shops and business establishments on the entire stretch.

However, due to the sealing order, a large number of illegally constructed buildings were also brought down by the Delhi Municipality. While the sealing of shops affected the traders badly, it also brought in its wake, relief for the commuters.

People, who crisscrossed this road daily suddenly found that the road was wider, there were footpaths as well and people could commute more easily than they were doing in past.
While people enjoyed this freedom for one and half years, the traders were sweating it out with lost business opportunities and bleak hopes for the future. For fifteen months the sealing order remained enforced and traders had no other option than to wait for a miracle to happen.

Ultimately after much deliberations and assurances from the government, the Court allowed de-sealing of shops in some areas including the Mehrauli-Gurgaon road, although the deadline for it is December 2008.

The opening of shops on the Mehrauli-Guragon road brought much needed relief to the businessmen and traders in the area. Shops were reopened and once closed showrooms reverberated with life once again. However life was never the same again.

The foundation stone of the ambitious project over Barapullah drain from Sarai Kale Khan to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was laid by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday. The elevated road would be commissioned within 18 months at an estimated cost of Rs.498 crore.

Describing it as an important infrastructural project that would go a long way in making Delhi a world-class city, Ms. Dikshit said the 3.7-km-long dual carriageway three-lane each elevated road would passing over four major crossings -- Ring Road, Nizamuddin railway tracks, Mathura Road and Lala Lajpat Rai Marg -- would be completed well ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

It is said to be the first project of its kind in the country involving construction of seven long span balanced cantilever bridges within a small stretch of 4 km.

It would not only provide unobstructed view of heritage monuments from surface roads, but also provide a bird's eye view of the heritage monuments in the Nizamuddin area.

It is aimed at providing free-flow of traffic and to save valuable time of commuters moving from the eastern side of Delhi towards central and south Delhi.

Apart from this, it would also ease traffic congestion on Ring Road at Ashram, on Mathura Road and other arterial roads. Also, increased average travel speed would reduce fuel consumption, pollution and loss of man-hours and also reduce maintenance cost of road.

Ms. Dikshit expressed confidence that the elevated road would be a marvellous piece of architecture in Delhi. It has been decided to regularly monitor progress of work on this project.

The Chief Minister further stated that her Government had instructed the Public Works Department to execute all the infrastructural projects related to the Commonwealth Games on a war-footing.

PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said that Delhi would have more flyovers and foot over-bridges with escalators in the next few months, which would result in smooth flow of traffic.