Step up drive against encroachment: L-G to agencies

Baijal apprised of action taken to remove roadblocks on 29 major traffic corridors in the Capital

Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal chaired a meeting at the Raj Niwas to review the status of action for removal of major encroachments and roadblocks on 29 major traffic corridors and road stretches in Delhi on Wednesday.

Mr. Baijal also directed the municipal bodies and the Traffic Police to carry out joint drives in each zone under their respective jurisdiction.

August 17 meeting

The meeting was attended by Delhi Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain, the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary (Home), the Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic), the New Delhi Municipal Council Commissioner, the municipal Commissioners, Commissioner (Transport) and other officials.

“The meeting started with a review of the action points of the previous meeting held at the Raj Niwas on August 17. The L-G was apprised of action taken by the agencies and stakeholders concerned regarding removal of encroachments and roadblocks in the identified 29 stretches,” the Raj Niwas said in a statement.

At the outset, according to the Raj Niwas, the L-G directed the municipal bodies and the Traffic Police to carry out joint drives in each zone of the Delhi Municipal Corporations.

Fine on violators

It was decided that fines shall be imposed on violators as per the Motor Vehicle Act as well as the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act.

Mr. Baijal directed Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to start an awareness campaign regarding unauthorised parking and encroachment on roads from Thursday so that people are made aware of challans and fines which they will have to pay in case of violations.

NGT order

“An intensive challan drive will start from September 18. It was apprised that such challans based on the weight of the articles seized [under DMC Act], and based on the orders of the National Green Tribunal will be a deterrent in nature,” the Raj Niwas said.

The L-G, according to the Raj Niwas, emphasised the need for and directed all stakeholders to ensure that all types of permanent, temporary, built-up and non-built-up encroachments are removed from these 29 identified stretches, as mandated by the Delhi High Court.

Category-B corridors

Further, action for decongestion of category-B traffic corridors identified by the task forces shall also be initiated from October 1, 2017, as per the L-G’s directions, even as the Traffic Police was directed to strictly enforce the policy of no-parking on the declared stretches as per law.

“The L-G emphasised that all agencies concerned and their officers should ensure that places which are made encroachment-free should not be re-encroached. He also stated that removal of encroachment shall be the responsibility of the respective municipal corporations as laid down in the statute and he also directed that all the Municipal Commissioners submit weekly report regarding the same,” the statement added.