On The Table Change

Noida Link
Noida to see better connectivity
The Noida Authority,Greater Noida Authority and Yamuna Expressway are planning to provide seamless and signal-free traffic movement between their areas,as well as Delhi and the satellite towns. Mohinder Singh,CEO and chairman,Noida Authority,said a budget of Rs 10,000 crore has been sanctioned. The creation of two transport corridors has been proposed for this. The first corridor proposes to connect Noida Extension to the proposed airport site at Jewar,Greater Noida. The second will connect Greater Noida with Maripat railway station and then go on to link NH-91 and the Eastern Peripheral Highway. There are also plans to construct bridges on the Yamuna,connecting the district with NH-2 at an interval of about 5-6 kilometres.

DU Fund
Delhi University to fund innovation
Delhi University will institute a fund to sponsor innovative research among its students. Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh says the attempt is to “engender innovation”. The fund is expected to be instituted by January-end and a task force will oversee implementation. “We are going to provide funding to all our colleges and all our departments for specific innovative projects that are part of the curriculum,” says Singh. “Not the syllabus — the curriculum.” The topic of the project will have to be outside the immediate discipline of the student. “The proposal must involve more than one discipline,must have students with mentors,must involve expertise from outside the institution and must have a definite objective in mind towards which they would work in an innovative fashion. It will be on a mild competitive basis — everyone who submits their proposal may not get approval. Details (on funding process) will be included in our instructions,” says Singh.

Rickshaw
A law for cycle-rickshaws
Cycle-rickshaws may soon be brought under a legislation. The final draft of a new law to regulate cycle-rickshaws will be ready in January and put up for High Court’s approval. Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta,who heads the traffic task force that is framing the law,said: “We are still debating on a few points,but a consensus has been arrived at on most others.” At present,cycle-rickshaws are regulated by elementary rules prepared by the MCD. The proposed law requires cycle-rickshaw pullers to know traffic rules and have a driving licence. The law may also require them to wear a uniform and paint the rickshaws in a uniform colour. “We are also providing for strict punishments and penalties for violating traffic rules,” said a task force member.

West Delhi
Easing traffic troubles
Drive from Vikaspuri to Wazirabad is set to become signal-free. There is a proposal to construct a 3.3 km long six-lane elevated road between Vikaspuri and Meera Bagh. The second flyover,2.6-km long,between Mangolpuri and Madhuban Chowk,will cover the crowded crossings of Mangolpuri Industrial Area,Deepali Chowk,Wazirpur and Rithala. Another flyover will come up between Madhuban Chowk and Mukarba Chowk. From Mukarba Chowk to Wazirabad,an eight-lane flyover covering Bhalswa,Mukundpur and Burari is being planned. In addition,there will be two clover leaves at Mukundpur and slip roads. The project is yet to get DUAC nod.

CCTV Camera
Eye on crime with high technology
The Delhi Police is ready to introduce its Intelligent Traffic System,under which around 30,000 CCTV cameras will be installed on city roads,markets and border points. The process of tendering and technical evaluation of companies for this mega project is already in place,and officials expect the installation of equipment to be complete by March. In the first phase,1,687 different kind of cameras will be installed on almost 90 roads covering an area of approximately 265 km. Fifty-eight markets and 27 border points will also be covered. The footage will be monitored from control rooms at the police headquarters and Kamla Market police station. Planned in 2009,the project is estimated to cost Rs 200 crore. “This project will help us detect crimes,check violations on the road and relieve some pressure on patrolling,” said B K Gupta,Commissioner of Delhi Police. The types of cameras include: Enforcement cameras,lane violation cameras,hot list detection cameras and red-light speed-check cameras. The project would also have radar detectors and several variable message signs.