The Public Works Department on Tuesday brought in police force to resume work on the last leg of construction of the Barapullah slip road. Construction had come to a standstill on Saturday after residents of Jangpura protested against the project. The slip road will provide another exit from the elevated road,on to the Lala Lajpat Rai Marg. The residents claim that the alignment of the slip road is incorrect and it will permanently block one of the access points to the colony. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyendra Garg,meanwhile,said the slip road could lead to traffic problems as the area is accident-prone. On December 24,we had written to the PWD regarding the two slip roads being made at Lala Lajpat Rai Marg. In the letter,we mentioned that the new slip road,which would provide another exit option from the elevated road,should be audited for safety as there is a sharp left turn. We said that traffic-calming measures should be introduced there to avoid accidents. Also,the exit of the road next to the colony entry/exit point,would affect vehicular and pedestrian movement in and around the colony, said Garg. In its letter,the traffic police suggested long-term corrective measures needed to be taken by the PWD,before the road was opened to traffic. People might use the exit slip road,to get on to the elevated road. In response to these queries,the PWD had told us that a consultant would be hired to take care of these issues, said Garg. He said the second slip road,for entry to the Barapullah road,needs proper regulation to ensure segregation of traffic. The PWD said police protection has been sought for two days,during which work on the road will be completed. The slip road will be ready in another two days and will be open for the public by the end of March. Consultants and DIMTS will work on ensuring traffic-calming measures on the stretch, said a PWD official. Jangpura residents,meanwhile,moved a petition before the Delhi High Court on Tuesday. The petition,which will come up for hearing on Wednesday,claimed that the slip road will make pedestrian movement in the area dangerous. The petition,filed though advocate R K Saini,has requested the court to order the Delhi government to provide on an urgent,time-bound basis,a foot overbridge with escalators on both sides on the Lala Lajpat Rai Marg for the safety of lives and limbs of pedestrians.
