In a first of its kind exercise, four-wheeler drivers will simultaneously be ‘taught respect for the stop-line rule and pedestrians’ right of way’ while the latter will be ‘encouraged to use foot-over bridges’ by the Delhi Traffic Police during this year’s instalment of the India International Trade Fair (IITF).
Purely out of the necessity of keeping congestion – both vehicular and pedestrian – minimal near Pragati Maidan, the venue of the annual business event, and avoiding a spill-over that could gridlock the Capital every day for a fortnight beginning November 14, the police will switch to manual traffic management, create temporary stoppages to assist pedestrians and adopt ‘a zero-tolerance policy against halting unless instructed to’ on the Bhairon Marg and Mathura Road.
“Halting will be completely restricted near the Bhairon Marg and the Mathura Road for everyone from bikers to motorists. Any vehicle found motionless on either stretch even for a minute, especially near the Bhairon Marg-Mathura Road crossing, would be deemed committing the offence of unauthorised parking and be towed away immediately,” said Muktesh Chander, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
“The vehicle owner will not only have to pay a fine in lieu of unauthorised parking but also towing away charges which means that each fine will be upwards of at least Rs.600 for erring motorists. So, we suggest that visitors utilise public transport as much as possible,” Mr. Chander said. He added that there was possibility that extra parking space could be made available for motorists visiting the fair this year.
With over one lakh visitors expected to visit Pragati Maidan event every day, traffic police sources said, emphasis would be laid on making the kilometre-long stretch as pedestrian-friendly as possible through massive deployment to streamline pedestrian movement.
The traffic police would also switch from automated to manual traffic management and create temporary crossing points manned by traffic police personnel at and around Pragati Maidan.
“Vehicles will be made to stop as per instructions from traffic personnel so that pedestrians can have safe, uninterrupted passage,” said a traffic police personnel privy to the IITF circulation plan.
“While we will assist as many visitors as possible in crossing at ground-level while dedicated deployment at foot-over bridges will ask pedestrians to make use of them as much as possible to ensure seamless circulation both of motorized and pedestrian traffic on all possible routes at or around the venue,” the officer added.