NAGPUR, Sept 29: The state government is expecting a massive financial assistance from Germany for implementing an ambitious Mass Rapid Transport and light rail project to ease traffic congestion problems in Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune and Thane cities.A delegation under the leadership of Chief Minister Manohar Joshi is scheduled to leave for Germany on October 24 to negotiate the aid proposal. This was stated by Guardian Minister Nitin Gadkari while talking to pressmen covering his `Janata Darbar' proceedings at Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall. Issues related to traffic and transportation problems facing the city were taken up in the Darbar.Gadkari said the traffic and transportation problems of Nagpur city, which were surveyed by City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and RITES, would be studied afresh. He was hopeful of the State Government successfully negotiating the aid package, which is expected to be around Rs 5000 crore. The Mass Rapid Transport project is considered to be the best solutionto complicated traffic and transportation problems in these four cities.Earlier, the Darbar proceedings were marked by questions from agitated citizens about the problems they face in parking of vehicles in market places. They bitterly complained that the city traffic police personnel were interested in booking only two wheeler owners for wrong parking. But they took no action against four wheelers owners, who were found parking their vehicles in front of big hotels and causing traffic blockades.Taking a serious cognisance of the complaints, Gadkari said owners of big hotels and commercial complexes in city should be directed to make parking arrangement in the basement. When it was pointed out to him that it would turn out to be an exercise in futility as most hotels have already converted their basement parking place into stores following `compounding' of these violations by Municipal Corporation, the minister took civic officials to task. He instructed them not to misuse their powers for`compounding' of such serious cases.The charge that traffic police personnel were looking for only two-wheeler owners, was refuted by T B Deotale, DCP (Traffic). He said over 300 four-wheelers were also booked for wrong parking in market places.Regarding `unauthorised and illegal' cycle rickshaws plying on city roads, Deotale assured to launch a special drive soon to book them. He informed that the city police repeatedly issued appeals to cycle rickshaw owners to register their vehicles with city police. But the response remained poor, with a mere 1400 rickshaws being registered so far.The demand for developing markets in far flug areas to ease pressure on already developed markets in the heart of the city, is under consideration of the Municipal Corporation, the minister said. Darbar was attended by officials of traffic police department, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and Regional Transport Office.
