Quick Maintenance of Traffic Lights

Dwarka does not have many intersections covered by Traffic lights. Even these few do not remain in working order all the time. Possible reason for delayed repairs is late realization of faults. Companies maintaining these traffic lights can not possibly check all traffic lights under their jurisdiction on daily basis. As & when the faults are reported by traffic police or noticed by their staff, repairs are undertaken. Result is non-functioning of traffic lights at vital junctions for weeks.

A simple measure enforced by traffic police throughout Delhi would result in early reporting & therefore early repairs. Traffic police must ask traffic light maintenance company to put TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THEIR REPAIR CENTRE next to their name. Alternately, traffic police may give a centralised number for recording such fault reports.

Commuters or general public may be encouraged to report such faults directly to these telephone numbers if wide publicity is given to this arrangement. Earlier fault reporting would enable early repairs and, thus, downtime of faulty traffic signals would get reduced drastically.

Centralised reporting of faults by traffic police would, in addition, enable generation of reports of faulty behaviour, efficiency of maintenance company & its technology.

Parking near markets on Dwarka Central Road

Central Road from sector-8 to Dwarka Mor metro station passes through highly populated sectors of Dwarka sub city. Sectors 6/10 Markets & Sectors 4/5/11/12 markets make passage of vehicles a challenge especially in the evenings. Vehicles of all hues & sizes are parked haphazardly on both sides of central road. Both parking in & out are hazardous. Driving through narrow space left becomes difficult. Scratches & minor accidents are routine. Even service lanes near markets witness indiscriminate parking. Just look at recent picture above.

Few of suggestions to decongest & streamline the traffic are as follows:

1. No parking of vehicles (including Rikshaws) should be allowed on Central Road. This is traffic-intensive road. Newly introduced bus service along central road necessitates decongested passage.

2. SERVICE LANES near 6/10 & 4/5/11/12 markets should have car parking on ONE side of service lane only for easy maneuvering.

3. All 2-wheelers should be parked NEAR BUILDINGS on one side of MARKET PARKING. 4-wheelers of occupants of shops & offices should be parked along the WALL inside market parking.

4. Service lanes near Sports complex (opposite sector-10 market) & near nursery ( opposite sector-6 market) should be used for parking of additional vehicles.

5. Simailarly, area available near foot of the bridge on sectors 5 & 11 side should be used for vehicle parking.

6. Necessary sign-boards along central road would help educate commuters to identify authorised parking areas leading to better compliance.

Orphan Crossing at Dwarka Entrance

Orphan Crossing at Dwarka Entrance

Dwarka inter-sector roads were built 5 years ago based on National Highway specifications. These are generally 45m or 60m ROW roads - wide & beautifully laid. In 2005, Dwarka flyover also got built to world class specifications. Ramp at Manglapuri provided connectivity to Dabri-Palam road, thus benefiting commuters from Mahavir Enclave & Palam / Rajnagar.

If any one tries to go to DDA Dwarka Project office headquarters from Dwarka, he would be cruising through comfortably on well laid Dwarka roads. On reaching main crossing at Dwarka Dwar, he would screech to a halt on encountering craters simulating moon surface.

Authorities seem to have forgotten about main crossing at Dwarka entrance of Dabri-Palam road with Dwarka-Manglapuri ramp. Ironically, access to DDA Dwarka Project HQ is through this orphan crossing. But, it seems, this crossing does not fall under jurisdiction of either DDA or MCD or PWD and has been lying in pathetic condition for last 5 years.

We were hoping that this crossing would get carpeted just before election time. But, nobody even looked at this orphan portion? Do we have to wait for another 5-years for proper crossing?

Drain Silting

Views
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Dwarka
Inter-sector
Roadside

Delhi spends tons of money on annual exercise of de-silting of drains throughout the urban part before onset of the Monsoon. Both Legislative assembly & Municipal Corporation debate this issue of de-silting & delay in de-silting vigorously every year. Accusations are hurled every year by whosoever is in opposition.

It seems, silting to a major extent is preventable. A major reason for accumulation of sediment in the drains is negligence. Please look at the Dwarka pictures carefully. Sweeper has inadvertently ( or intentionally?? ) left mounds of dirt & trash near the mouth of drain. A burst of rain is enough to wash major portion of accumulated trash to enter the drain. Even, during de-silting operation, removed silt is heaped together near drain-mouth. One spell of rain and we are back to square one.

Isn't prevention better than cure?

Dwarka Municipal Corporation

Dwarka Sub City has acquired a unique character among Delhi colonies. Planners including DDA must be given credit for such futuristic thinking and execution. Wide roads, Greenery, planned infrastructure, Areas earmarked for commercial, Institutional, Educational, Recreational, Healthcare, transportation purposes- all have been provided for.

DDA must concentrate only on planned development of sub city & removal of anomalies like inadequate parking space, etc. Water distribution should be handed over to Delhi Jal Board. Maintenance of roads, sewer / drains & electricity infrastructure should be left to experts.

MCD has been maintaining vast heterogeneous areas of Delhi - from congested old Delhi to haphazard areas of remaining Delhi leaving aside beautiful NDMC area & Delhi Cantonment area. A different mindset conducive to planned areas is required for out-of-box ideas for effective management of resources of Dwarka sub city.

Dwarka Municipal Corporation ( DMC ) is the answer. New organisation, New clear headed CEO like Mr. E. Sreedharan, New work culture, New ideas - such is the need of hour to manage Dwarka to make it world class. Dwarka has already attained critical mass in terms of revenue generation -enough to make DMC economically viable.

Hope, authorities would take notice & act swiftly to convert Dwarka into an Oasis.

DDA's Whimsical Project Execution

Recent View from Fakhrudin Apartments side

Service road from Godrej Apartments thru Central market till Fakhrudin Apartments in Sector -10 of Dwarka sub city was in pathetic condition. Uneven road sections had developed potholes .Few seasons of exposure to rain water worsened the road condition.

After month's followup by affected residents, DDA recently took up recarpeting work of service road from Godrej Apartment side. About 50% work got completed in 4 days. And, all of sudden, work got abandoned. Road carpeting machinery & workers are not to be seen anywhere.

It is hoped that DDA's files also show only 50% work completion and that remaining work would be undertaken immediately.

Strenuous Entry to Dwarka

When we shifted to Dwarka sub city in 2001, flyover & Metro connectivity were far away in future. Direct entry to our dream city was through narrow & heavily encroached Dabri-Palam road. Congested Palam rail crossing route required 30-45 minutes extra time & was at best avoidable. We shifted on the hope of projected opening of road over drain in 2002 for direct connectivity to Pankha Road from Dwarka.

Even in 2008, this road over drain is far from over. Both entry points at Dabri & Dwarka side really test the commuter & his vehicle. Loud cursing comes naturally. One wonders why DDA can not get assigned work from its contractors finished in time as per contracted schedule.

How many more years would DDA take to finish remaining 100m stretches on both sides of road from sector-2/3/5/6 junction to Dabri?

Sub-standard Median Fencing on Dwarka Roads

For quite sometime, fencing has been getting erected on central verge of Dwarka roads in haphazard way. Entire operation seems to be handiwork of absent-minded DDA officials & contractors.

CC fencing material looks sub-standard. Adjoining pieces are not joined together making structure weaker. Gaps, intentional or otherwise, left in between makes one wonder about the basic purpose of such fencing exercise. If the idea was to stop pedestrian movement across the road, these gaps nullify that objective. In fact, such gaps make the road very dangerous. Motorists would normally cruise through such fenced stretches. Emergence of anybody through such gaps may lead to serious accidents.

DDA should immediately halt such sub-standard work & introspect first on usefulness of such exercise & then on correct execution.

Queer Traffic light behaviour in Dwarka

Recently, new traffic lights programs have been activated at various intersections in Dwarka sub city. When 5 seconds of GREEN light remains, timer indicator for green light starts blinking. This gives impression to road users that change of light to RED is imminent. Drivers speed up to cross the road which may prove dangerous. Actually, after the blinking, GREEN light changes to AMBER. This amber light timer remains stationary for 5 seconds. However, blinking GREEN timer may have done the damage.

It is recommended to keep timer for GREEN light stationary till its full countdown. AMBER light may be flashed or blinked for 5 seconds. This sequence would have calming effect on road users.

Square Names in Dwarka

Dwarka Subcity has very well laid out roads. Inter sector roads are generally 60m / 45m wide. Crossings may not have traffic lights to regulate traffic, but, generally, are quite elaborate affair. People residing nearby these crossings have discovered a short cut to immortalize themselves or their societies. Overnight signboards get mounted near these crossings proclaiming their dominion. So we have Aashirwad Chowk, Munirka Chowk, Rashi Chowk & so on. Very soon, we would witness quarrels over names.

Let our Government or development agency DDA intervene & assign names to prominent Dwarka crossings. Names may be picked up from among Freedom fighters, Great National leaders, Historical greats, etc.

Impact

Periodically, different government departments have been reacting to blog HAMARA DWARKA by acknowledging, forwarding to their senior officers for action & acting on suggestions put forward for betterment of Dwarka subcity.

Recently, DDA re-activated use of toilet block in sector-10 market. HAMARA DWARKA highlighted it under caption Public Conveniences in Dwarka Central Market.

DMRC, some time back, had informed on appropriate measures regarding strengthening its security in response to blog Insecure Illegal parking at Dwarka Metro Stations.

Delhi Police has been forwarding said suggestions to Joint Commissioners of different departments for consideration & necessary action.

Times of India had published ALL of blogs with photographs in different editions of Dwarka Plus in last few months.

Encouragement enough to continue sharing of ideas....

Committment from prospective MP / MLA

Election time is quite near & political parties are going to announce their nominees shortly. Dwarka subcity & adjoining areas are going to send 4 MLA's to Delhi assembly & 2 MP's to Parliament.

Dwarka citizens must brainstorm amongst themselves and come out with a charter of demands for welfare of Dwarka subcity. This charter of demands can be submitted to candidates of ALL NATIONAL political parties. Their responses & committments can be taken in writing on issues raised.

Both charter of demands as well as candidates responses may be put online on various blogs / web sites devoted to Dwarka. Dwarka citizens may then decide on their representatives independently & freely.

Suggestions are invited.

Original Vehicle Registration Documents

Recently, Biker gang is in news for wrong reasons. Cases of snatching motor cycles have been reported from South Delhi, Noida, Dwarka, etc. When riders refused to part with original motor cycle registration certificate, they were shot, sometimes fatally.

Many years ago, Delhi Police had refused to register FIR of theft of my vehicle in absence of registration papers. If vehicle is stolen, original registration papers also go with Vehicle.

Motors Vehicles Act makes it mandatory for all vehicle owners to carry original registration papers in addition to Insurance papers, Pollution Control Certificate & Driving License.

Suggestion is to allow photocopy of registration certificate in case of private cars & 2-wheelers for at least intra-Delhi travel. This is in addition to original Insurance papers, original PCC & original license. Commercial vehicles may still be insisted upon to carry all original documents.

Implementation of this suggestion, hopefully, would take care of two problem scenerios.

Improvement in Mechanised Garbage Collection

Every morning, blue & green MCD trucks are a familiar sight in Dwarka sub-city. These go about their garbage collection from blue and green garbage bins placed in different sectors in a mechanical way. MCD team locates next garbage bin & stops his truck ahead of bin. Two associates get down from truck & align bin along mechanised arms. Hydraulic activation lifts the bin & tilts bin inwards to empty the contents. Garbage contents invariably do not get emptied fully. Driver moves the truck, races few steps & suddenly brakes hard. This jerk hopefully dislodges remaining garbage from the bin, else the whole process is repeated.

This jerky movement stirs collected garbage in the truck & lets out nauseating stink all around. Also, hard braking wears down tyres really badly. One look at tyre marks confirms this.

Can't MCD authorities work out solution with vehicle manufacturers in this technologically developed country? Mechanised garbage collection need not leave out visible tyre marks & nauseating smell behind to let citizens know that MCD is at work.

Water Conservation at Home

Please ponder over this simple, but effective, idea of water conservation at home.

Idea is to put 2L filled & sealed water bottle in every cistern of every home. Space occupied by this bottle would save 2L of water everytime flush is used. A family of 4 would typically use flush 15-20 times a day. Just imagine saving possible if all houses in Dwarka (nee whole of Delhi) practice this simple water conservation technique.

Japan has already introduced 2.5L - 4L cistern tanks. Airlines have been using such water saving devices in their toilets.

Residents can play a very positive role in popularising this suggestion in their respective CGHS / DDA pockets.

Insecure Illegal parking at Dwarka Metro Stations

Metro train has become a popular means of transport in Dwarka subcity. Many commuters leave their vehicles at Metro parking lots & take a Metro for their destinations.

Parking space designed for Dwarka Metro stations is not any more sufficient. Let us take Sector-11 station as an example. Covered parking space in station complex can accomodate at the most 10-15 cars & 30-40 two wheelers. Number of cars on any working day exceeds 40-50 cars at this station. As can be seen in the photograph, parking contractor has conveniently encroached upon vacant land under Metro tracks. But, he has not cared to add any staff to look after these vehicles parked in open. Break-ins, theft of items in the cars & theft of cars themselves are waiting to happen.

Authorities from DMRC, DDA & Police need to pay attention to such insecure, illegal parking extensions.

Postal Zones of Dwarka subcity

Vast Dwarka subcity is being serviced through 4 postal zones. Zones and areas falling under its jurisdiction are summarized below:

110045: DDA pocket-13 & 16, Palam Village, Manglapuri, Mahavir Enclave, Vijay Enclave, Bengali Colony, Dwarkapuri

110075: Sectors 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 19 & Amberahi village

110077: Palam Extn, Sector -7, Dadadev mandir, Rajnagar part 1 & 2, Bagdola, SPG complex, Sector 8, 9, 22 & 23, Pochanpur, Dhul saras

110078: Sectors 3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18

Road Median Bushes & Accidents

Dwarka subcity roads ( and in fact Delhi roads ) are wide and multi-laned. Roads are neatly divided into lanes by employing medians. These road medians would typically feature plants of various types & sizes. Apart from better aesthetics, these bushes save motorists from headlight glare of vehicles coming from opposite direction in the night.

Unfortunately, these very plants on road median make road crossings, T-sections & road-gaps accident-prone as these plants are grown right till the edge of such gaps. Driver in the moving vehicle would not be able to notice any traffic from adjacent road till he clears median bushes & reaches the gap. Sometimes, it may be too late & may result in accident.

It is suggested to leave last 5 metres ( or 15 feet ) of road median without any plants before road crossings, T-sections & road-gaps. This would give motorist 5-metres of safety to judge traffic movement on adjacent roads & take preventive measures.

Alternative to weekly bazaar outlets

Weekly bazaars have been banned in Dwarka after recent blasts. A convenient option available to residents for weekly stocking of fruits & vegetables nearer to their place of residence has been closed at least for now. Police does not allow even vegetable carts to stand at any corner.

I have noticed that there are 4 THADAS ( small kiosk platforms ) next to sector-10 Mother Dairy booth. These are unoccupied for last many years, but are obviously meant to be used as micro retail booths. These are ideal places for local vegetable, fruit outlets.

As all sectors in Dwarka subcity already have or would have respective Mother Dairy booths, these kiosks may be activated to provide local source for fruits, vegetables, bakery items, etc.

DDA is requested to initiate activation process.

Dis-Service road of Sector-10

Service road starting from plot no. 14 ( Godrej Apartments ) in sector-10 and ending 1/2 KM later at plot no. 18 ( Fakkhruddin Memorial CGHS ) is in shambles. It passes in front of Godrej, Saral, Shakuntalam, Maitri apartments, DDA SFS pocket-1, full stretch of 22 buildings of sector-10 central market & Fakkhruddin memorial CGHS apartments.

Potholes are strewn throughout the length and broken & unscietific speed breakers add to the misery. This service road was laid five years ago. Each monsoon ravages it. Daily travel of multiple heavy water tankers have added to its misery.

Attention of DDA is drawn to sad state of this road which is crying for help. It needs immediate recarpeting.

Speed Limit

World is constantly devising ways & means of improving commutation in cities. Better roads, Flyovers, Synchronized traffic corridor, Lanes, Overbridges, Subways, Overhead & underground transport, separate pedestrian pathway, better vehicles - list is endless for improving average traffic speed on roads in large cities. Even Red lights help in orderly traffic thereby increasing average speed.

Decision to keep maximum vehicle speed to 50 Km/Hr throughout Delhi by Transport Deptt. & Delhi Traffic Police needs revisiting. In any case, uniform speed limit for all roads without considering specific traffic pattern for specific roads is not rational. For example, there is no justification for limiting speed on certain sections of Central Delhi roads, Ridge Road, Dwarka roads, Dwarka-NH8 byepass Road, etc. In any case, how many vehicles practically travel at 50 Km/Hr on Dwarka-NH8 byepass road. Accidents happen inspite of speed limit and should not be used as only yardstick for downward revision. Rather we should ponder on steps needed for raising speed limit for any & every road.

Commuter should benefit from better wide road designs, better vehicle technology. To start with, speed limit may be raised to 70 Km/Hr for Dwarka-NH8 byepass road & 60 Km/Hr for Dwarka roads.

Misleading Sector Markers

Dwarka subcity has a variety of Sign boards showing directions, giving information and sometimes confusing commuters. Globally, road sign boards give directions in anticipation. For example, sign board just before start of Dwarka flyover gives LEFT, STRAIGHT & RIGHT directions. LEFT would take one to DABRI, STRAIGHT to NH-8 & RIGHT turn under the flyover would take one to PALAM.

Paradoxically, on wide roads of Dwarka, sector marker boards had been installed in the middle of roads announcing END of a sector rather than START of another sector. Photograph shows anomaly very clearly. When commuter is leaving sector-9 & entering sector-10, he/she encounters a sector marker board showing sector-9. Even a Dwarka veteran going to a new sector would get thoroughly confused.

DDA should at least now stop quizzing Dwarka citizens and correct ALL sector markers at the earliest.

Three Wheeler Vehicles on roads

Every traffic commuter on Delhi roads would have encountered stubborn 3-wheeler plying right in the middle of road at its usual slow speed, even if traffic at that time is thin on that road. Every other vehicle, without option, would be overtaking it. Effect of that overtaking ripples through to adjoining lanes thereby disturbing entire traffic flow.

I feel, this habit of 3-wheeler plying in the middle has been formed due to the fact that left lane has been reserved for buses.

Ideally, left lane should be kept reserved for the movements of slower vehicles like 3-wheelers. I would strongly suggest to keep left most lane reserved for 3-wheelers ( and 2-wheelers also for their safety). All 4-wheelers including buses would use central lane. Right lane, if existing, can be used for overtaking or sharing of traffic load. This measure is expected to reduce significantly the chaotic conditions on our roads & hopefully improve average commuting speed of all categories of vehicles. This would also help reduce accidents & their severity involving 2 & 3-wheeler vehicles.

Watch your step near Sec-11 Metro Station

Watch your step near sector-11 Metro Station. Just 100 meters short of station building, 5 manholes in continuum are waiting to get you. These are lying uncovered for many years. Other manholes on the same stretch are neatly covered with DMRC-marked red slabs on both sides of this lot.

It is high time to cover these injury-traps without waiting for some real tragedy. Attention of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is requested.

Public Conveniences in Dwarka Central Market

Central market in Sectors 6 & 10 in Dwarka has become quite popular. Visitor numbers are increasing every day. Last year, DDA had constructed 2 toilet blocks for Central market visitors- one in sector-10 & another in sector-5 just opposite sector-6 market.

Sector-5 toilet block is in use. but Sector-10 toilet block has been lying locked for quite some time. Visitors needing toilet facilities reach sector-10 toilet block. When they find it locked, they relieve themselves on the walls. Result - nauseating stink.

One wonders why is DDA keeping it locked after investing lakhs of rupees in its construction & making public suffer inconvenience?

Must ADD Traffic Lights

There is urgent need to add 3 traffic lights at 2 intersections on the busy Central Road of Dwarka & 3rd at 2, 3, 5, 6 crossing intersection.

1. Traffic at intersection of sectors 4, 5, 11 & 12 is becoming heavier with each passing day. Market traffic in the evenings is becoming unmanageable. Immediate installation of traffic lights at this intersection only can make traffic movement smoother & prevent any untoward accident.

2. Day by day, traffic is becoming heavier at intersection of Sector 2 /3 & sectors 5/6 especially in the mornings & evenings, as Dabri traffic also converges here. In the absence of traffic lights, it is extreme chaos. High priority is to be given for installation of traffic lights at this intersection as well.

3. There is a sharp bend on Central road near sector 13/14 - NSIT intersection. Road from sectors-13/14 joins Central road making a T circle joint. Traffic flashers need to be installed immediately on all 3 roads as a warning to traffic users. These may later be converted to fully functional traffic lights when vehicle density increases.

Central Road Parking near markets

Central Road from sector-8 to Dwarka Mor metro station passes through highly populated sectors. Sectors 6/10 Markets & Sectors 4/5/11/12 markets make passage of vehicles a challenge especially in the evenings. Vehicles of all hues & sizes are parked haphazardly on both sides of central road. Both parking in & out are hazardous. Driving through narrow space left becomes difficult. Scratches & minor accidents are routine. Even service lanes near markets witness indiscriminate parking.

Few of suggestions to decongest & streamline the traffic are as follows:

1. No parking of vehicles (including Rikshaws) should be allowed on Central Road. This is traffic-intensive road. Newly introduced bus service along central road necessitates decongested passage.

2. Service lanes near markets should have car parking on ONE side of service lane only for easy maneuvering.

3. All 2-wheelers should be parked on one side of market parking. 4-wheelers of occupants of shops & offices should be parked along the wall inside market parking.

4. Service lanes near Sports complex (opposite sector-10 market) & near nursery ( opposite sector-6 market) should be used for parking of additional vehicles.

5. Simailarly, area available near foot of the bridge on sectors 5 & 11 side should be used for vehicle parking.

6. As traffic on north-south road between sectors -4/5 and sectors -11/12 is currently manageable, parking may be allowed for the time being along said road.

7. Necessary sign-boards along central road would help educate commuters to identify authorised parking areas leading to better compliance.

Ideas are welcome to further improve suggested scheme.

Central Road

With the recent opening of sector-5 / 11 bridge over drain in Dwarka subcity, the road connecting sectors 6/10 to sectors 5/11 has become the MOST important road in Dwarka subcity. Starting from sector-8 and passing through sectors 7,9 6,10, 5, 11, 4, 12, 13, 3, 14, it reaches Dwarka Mor metro station near Kakrola. It should aptly be named CENTRAL ROAD.

DTC should start regular bus service on this road to provide much needed connectivity to New Delhi city. To start with, diversion of popular 764 bus service to south Delhi through central road would satisfy long pending demand of Dwarka citizens.