‘One-way flyovers create bottlenecks’

“Most single flyovers that are being constructed in Delhi are designed to deal with only one intersection. They ease the problem at that intersection but create bottlenecks elsewhere,” Chadha told Newsline. “There are flyovers that let traffic pass till it comes to a stop at the ITO junction.”

“And there are several places like this,” he added. Among these are the Savitri flyover and the Rao Tula Ram Marg,Chadha counted.

Among other ways to cut the chaos on road is to reduce the number of private vehicles and lift the moratorium on auto-rickshaws,thereby getting more three-wheelers to operate,Chadha said.

There are 55,000 ‘legal’ auto-rickshaws in Delhi,and Chadha said the only way to make auto-rickshaw drivers follow traffic rules and run their meters for each customer is getting more three-wheelers on road. “The auto-rickshaw drivers realise there are more people waiting to get into autos than the number of three-wheelers in Delhi,” he said,“and they realise there would always be another customer waiting for them even if they are rude to one.

“And they are taking advantage of exactly that at present.”

He said the Traffic department held several meeting with auto-rickshaw drivers in the last several months to understand their problems and find a middle way to improve the Capital’s traffic situation ahead of the Commonwealth Games this October.

After several of these meetings,Chadha believes it is best to increase the number of auto-rickshaws so that drivers feel compelled to compete with each other. “Increasing their numbers would also give more options to a commuter. In such circumstances,an auto driver will not overcharge or be rude,” Chadha said.

Chadha also said the government,at some point,has to find effective ways to control the increasing number of cars. “Delhi’s roads are not getting any bigger but the vehicles are increasing — it has to be checked,” he said. “If someone is buying a second car,he should be made to pay more.”

He said the government can also look at increasing parking rates in places like Connaught Place to make people use public transport like the Metro and ease the traffic on road.