: Expressing concern over the slow progress of plans to develop lanes devoted to non-motorised vehicles (NMV) in the Capital, the Delhi High Court has asked the government to consider issuing a notification for the purpose and also consider introduction of CCTVs to monitor traffic in these lanes.
Hearing a public interest litigation, a Division Bench of the court also directed the Delhi Police to look into the possibility of asking the civil defence volunteers to assist the Traffic Police in regulating traffic near the NMV lanes.
The PIL, filed by NGO Manushi Sangathan, has raised the issue of equitable access to road space for NMVs and compliance with a landmark judgment delivered by the High Court in 2010 and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2012. The PIL was moved in 2007 against the then prevailing ban on cycle rickshaws imposed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
Several glitches
Petitioner’s counsel Indira Unninayar told the Bench, comprising Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice Vibhu Bakhru, that the statements of the Delhi Police with regard to pilot projects for NMV lanes were contradictory as they claimed on the one hand that the lanes were fully operational, but also stated that there were several glitches blocking the movement of vehicles.
The Delhi Police said they required 25-odd marshals over and above their own personnel on some of these roads to monitor and regulate NMV movement. The petitioner sought directions for issuance of notification prohibiting motorised vehicles from entering NMV lanes with clear penal consequences as traffic violation and be dealt with accordingly.
Ms. Unninayar said the pictorial signages clearly demarcating NMV lanes from the other road space should be clearly put up near the lanes to indicate that they are only meant for NMVs. Instead of relying upon marshals, police personnel at the points of entry and exit and perhaps one or two strategically placed in between, could do the job, she said.
More NMV lanes coming
The NMV roads being considered among the proposed pilot projects by the Delhi government's Public Works Department are Lodhi Road, Geeta Colony, NH 24-Noida Mod and S.P.M. Mukherji Marg.
Shahjahanabad in Old Delhi is another area where pedestrianisation and NMV lanes are being incorporated as directed after lengthy consultations among stakeholders. The case will come up for further hearing in the court on July 18.