Positive Impact on Traffic Mess-up in Dwarka

Happy to report positive impact of issue raised through blog "Daily Traffic Mess-up at T-junction of Sector-2 road of Dwarka" on 14.12.2009 and followed through with direct interaction with authorities of Delhi Traffic Police.

Contents of said blog were shared as complaint-cum-suggestion with Jt. Commissioner (Traffic) & Commissioner of Police. They were acted upon timely and forwarded to relevant authorities in south-west district. Finally, action was seen in the shape of Traffic Police Constable controlling the traffic in peak evening time.

It is hoped that traffic police would take the next logical step of installing traffic lights for automatic regulation of vehicular traffic at all times.

Cornering of Railway Tatkal Reservations

Railway authorities had changed the norm of booking of Tatkal reservations from 5-days in advance to two days in advance. Which means, booking of Tatkal reservations for all trains starts 2 days in advance of journey date. Ostensibly, it is to help genuine commuters to enable last minute planning of emergency rail journey.

A different pattern seems to be emerging. Genuine commuters are, in many cases, not able to benefit from this facility. It is observed that IRCTC site for Internet booking of rail tickets remains very busy from time of start of booking i.e 8AM every morning for approx 20-30 minutes. And most of seats against tatkal reservation gets cornered. It seems that said problem is creation of travel agents by resorting to mass booking of tatkal tickets at 8AM every morning. They keep all of their computers ready with their client data and submit for booking at 8AM. Just imagine, lacs of travel agents all across the country booking on different trains for different classes simultaneously. Obviously, IRCTC site would be very busy. Hardly, any needy person would be able to book his tatkal ticket during that morning period. All tatkal tickets for important destinations on all important trains would simply disappear. And what is left is crumbs for general public.

Railways & IRCTC need to find answer to this type of cornering of tatkal reservation facility, though legitimate.

Daily Traffic Mess-up at T-junction of Sector-2 road & Road-over Drain

Dabri connectivity through road-over Drain from Dwarka sector-2/3/5/6 crossing is boon most of the time. This 4-km stretch saves at least 15-20 minutes each time one travels from Dwarka to Dabri or vice-versa.

But, in the evening, same boon gets converted to curse. One can witness one km long queue of vehicles on the road-over drain crawling towards Dwarka. This traffic jam is due to T-junction of this road with road coming from sector-1/2. This T-junction does not have any Traffic light to regulate traffic. So everybody pushes forward to cross simultaneously resulting in criss-crossing of vehicles and blocking of each other's path. This creates big traffic jam in evening hours on daily basis.

Commuters experience it every evening. Traffic authorities also would have experienced this jam someday. Don't they have mechanism to initiate remedial action on their own? Can't they think of installing traffic light post haste to regulate such chaotic traffic? And till, traffic light is installed, can't traffic constables be deputed in the evening for manual regulation?

Why should such traffic mess continue day after day? Please ponder. In case authorities were waiting for someone else to point out the problem, now that also has been pointed out.

It is time for action.

Bus Lane & Protruding Trees

Recently, roads in Dwarka sub city were were divided into lanes. All lanes including bus lanes & bus shelter areas were marked and painted.

Unfortunately, nobody noticed that buses, if forced to travel strictly in bus lane would keep hitting tress planted on the pavement along the road. Trees were planted so close to road that, after their growth over the years, practically all of trees are protruding on the bus lane. Their height allows only rikshaws & smaller vehicles to pass under them but not the bus - not even minibus or RTV. Traffic growth in Dwarka would make bus travel in bus lane more difficult. Tree cover would be in danger.

Only solution to this tree hitting problem by buses is regular trimming of trees for now. In future, new trees plantation should move inwards & away from road.

Potential Road Rage Spots in Dwarka

Look at the photograph above carefully. This service lane is breeding ground for Road rage champions. Vehicles have been parked on both sides of narrow service lane therby making it narrower. This double parking scene continues for several hundred meters. Only one vehicle can pass through at a time in the space left.

Now just imagine a vehicle approaching from the other side. One of vehicle has to back off -God knows for how many meters. Which one would back off & how many times? This is really a test of patience.

Now imagine the plight of commuter emerging from apartment gate. His gate opens in service lane. As his approach is forming a T-junction with service lane, normally he has to to back off to his apartment. How many times would he back off? Emerging explosive scenerio, isn't it?

Only solution, as suggested to traffic authorities & DDA many times, is single lane parking along the wall (away from Road) in the service lane throughout Dwarka. Let authorities implement single lane parking immediately with proper signages & pre-empt emergence of road rage champions.

DTC Circular Bus Service on Central Road

After a interminable wait by Dwarkaites, DTC finally started a Intra-Dwarka circular service connecting various ( but not all ) sectors recently.

Central Road no. 202 from sector-8 to Dwarka Mor metro station passes through highly populated sectors & both markets. This road 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 & NSIT, it reaches Dwarka Mor metro station near Kakrola. It also passes through highly sought after Sectors 6/10 Market & Sectors 4/5/11/12 market.

DTC should start another regular circular bus service on this road to provide much needed connectivity. It may start from sector-8 depot, reach eastern end of central road near Dadadev mandir and start westward journey through most populous sectors of Dwarka eventually reaching Dwarka Mor Station at kakrola. After taking a U turn, it may start its reverse journey through same central road thereby completing its circular route.

DTC is requested to start this circular service at the earliest. My hunch is that this circular sewa on most central road of Dwarka would be more popular than the current circuitous route planned by it.

ATM Bloomer

I have been using ATM service for last 20 years but, never did I experience such a bizarre stuation.

Yesterday, I withdrew some cash from ATM machine ( bank's name withheld purposely ) situated at Sector-12 market of Dwarka. Fortunately, when ATM was spewing out cash, security guard was also in cabin. As soon as I collected cash, I noticed that one Rs. 500/- note, though crisp & new, was torn on left hand side ( shown above ). Guard was also surprised to see note in such condition. I immediately asked guard to note down this condition in ATM's register with my name & mobile number, took guard's name & mobile number. Guard agreed to be witness to this ATM bloomer. He also agreed to inform when private company persons would come next day for loading cash in ATM. I also pointed torn note towards CCTV camera for live recording of note's condition.

I drove to nearest branch of that bank with torn note, transaction slip & guard's particulars. Fortunately, manager of that branch was sensible. After learning facts, he made enquiries, consulted his seniors and asked teller to replace the torn note.

I was relieved to get solution so fast. But beware, surprises can come any time & in any shape.

Pictures of Negligence

View
of
drain
near
Public
Conve-
niences
in

Sector-10
market,

Dwarka

These pictures are negligence personified. Clearly this drain has not been desilted for years. Malba, weeds, plasic bags, bottles and like items are literally choking this drain.

Obviously, idea of cleaning & desilting has not occured to civic authorities. Classic solution of brushing under the carpet is currently under implementation. DDA is covering this stretch of drain by concrete slabs without any attempt to first clean it. This step may be for showcasing to guests during Commonwealth Games. But, what would happen to stench, overflow during rains?

Are civic authorities listening?

Indifferent MTNL IVR service 1504

Internet has become so part of life that breakdown of broadband service even for a day hits hard. Yesterday, after a brief downpour in Dwarka, my broadband stopped working. I tried in vain all efforts to revive the same - tightening cable connections, powering down ADSL modem, rebooting computer, etc.

As broadband was dead, only option I had was registering complaint on MTNL's 1504 service. After going through series of IVR ( Interactive Voice Response ) messages, my complaint was registered & I was given a long docket number like 4050015606089 in one breath. No repetition.

This long docket number set me thinking. Is this one of the tools employed by MTNL to discourage consumers from registering complaints & then following up? Very few people would remember such a long docket number. They would rather be surprised to hear such a long list of numerals. Even if one wants to note down this docket number, s/he is likely to miss few numerals or their sequence?

Does MTNL really want to serve such complaints? Can't they manage with simple 4-digit complaint number alongwith date of complaint?

Waterlogging in Dwarka?

View
of
sector-10/11
intersector
road

One of major perk of living in Dwarka sub city is its well-laid infrastructure. Master plan roads were laid keeping in mind NHAI highway standards. That is the reason that even after more than 5 years, these roads have largely withstood vagaries of misuse. Storm water drains are on both sides of sloping roads facilitating faster drain-out of rain water.

Dwarkaites proudly boast of absence of waterlogging on Dwarka roads to fellow Delhites. But, it seems, they would not be able to boast much longer. Maintenance of roads is not of same standard. Negligence is creeping in. Sweepers are leaving behind accumulated dirt, malba & assorted leftovers on main roads. This picture of sector-10/11 intersector road having 3 dirt islands within 200m is testimony to such negligence. Authorities are turning a blind eye to such accumulation.

Few rain sessions are enough to wash the entire dirt into storm water drain leading to choking. Result - waterlogging in Dwarka of serious nature. Next year, contracts would be awarded to de-silt whole of the drain.

Would it be not better to prevent silting in the first place?

Dysfunctional Email Service in DDA

It has been observed that Email service is dysfunctional in the offices of Chief Engineer (Dwarka) and Vice Chairman, DDA for quite some time. In fact, last 2 emails sent during last fortnight could not be delivered and bounced back. Offices of both Vice Chairman & Chief Engineer (Dwarka) were telephonically informed about malfunction.

It is surprising that, in the era of e-Governance, Email system in DDA is not functional most of the time. It is pertinent to note that these email id's are highlighted prominently on DDA's website as well as DDA's official directory.

DDA is requested to get its Email system corrected and keep it functional at all times.

Accelerated Development in Dwarka

Dwarka Sub City is on its way to apex position 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.

Such infrastructure requires regular & proper maintenance. DDA, MCD, MTNL & BSES would of course be pivotal in providing timely & quality services. Role of citizens becomes very important. Authorities must get regular feedback on deficiencies, additional requirement, etc. Complaints on common issues through letters, emails, media articles must be followed up with meetings. Direct meetings would help authorities understand different dimensions of said problem & would normally help in arriving at an action plan. RTI route may be resorted to in case of delay in action or complete inaction.

This strategy has helped sector-10 residents of Dwarka sub city immensely. In last few months, such interaction has helped in recarpeting of sector-10 MLU service lane, covering of open manhole covers on drains, de-contamination of water pipeline, silt -removal & cleaning of sewer line throughout pocket, tiling on both sides of inner pocket road, mechanised carpeting of inner pocket road, as seen in photograph.

Recycling Tree Guards

Photographs
show
stifled
tree
growth
&
wasted
tree
guards

Between 1996-2000, massive plantation drive was undertaken in Dwarka sub city. Tree plants of various types were planted along both sides of wide roads, parks, DDA pockets, etc. Tree guards were used to protect these plants. Design of tree guards was such that two circular halves were hingeable on one side & screwable on opposite side. This design helped easier installation around plants of different age & sizes. Hinge & screw design also enabled easy removal of tree guards after tree trunk grows thick enough to sustain itself.

Unfortunately, recycling of tree guards has taken a back seat. Authorities would rather procure new tree guards at increasing prices than bother to take trouble of recycling old ones. Look at the pictures. Tree guards have become part of tree trunk in first photograph. Or these are hindering the growth of tree itself, as seen in second photograph.

In this era of recession, conservation & recycling should be the norm. DDA (Dwarka) is requested to reuse old tree guards & save . This step would also help tree to grow normally.

Public Transportation in Dwarka

Movement within & from Dwarka sub city has remained an issue in last 10 years of its habitation. Movement of DTC / blueline buses on northern road of Dwarka was the only connectivity option for Dwarkaites. Slowly, bus services were introduced on select roads & destinations. Even on those select roads, periodicity and frequency of bus service leaves lot to be desired

Recent announcenments made by DTC of basing 200 buses in Dwarka is surely a welcome move. Installation of signboard declaring arrival of DTC Terminal in central Dwarka in sector-10 is huge positive development.

It is hoped that DTC terminal would receive right priority & become a reality very soon. Routes - intra-sector as well as intersector - connecting all parts of Dwarka to different parts of Delhi would inspire citizens to leave their private vehicles behind & move to public transportation.

Thanks But No Thanks

It was nice of Chief Engineer, DDA (Dwarka projects) to take cognizance of 'Hazardous Footpaths of Dwarka' published on March 10. 2009 and act swiftly by placing back 9 inspection covers on open manholes in sector-10 & 11. 4 covers were missing on footpath along Muthoot hospital road & 5 were missing on footpath along road leading to Sector-11 Metro station from Pratibha Vidhyalaya.

4 Covers of correct size have been put back on footpath along Muthoot hospital road, but ALL 5 covers placed along Metro station road are undersized as seen in the photograph. Slabs do not cover the manholes fully. As the streetlight on this road is mostly off in the evenings, there are very good chances of someone hurting himself / herself at these 5 places of half-hearted attempts.

DDA is requested to place correct size inspection covers on all 5 manholes on footpath leading to Sector-11 Metro station of Dwarka.

ATM Freedom??

After RBI's announcement that cash withdrawal & balance enquiry services can be obtained from ATM of any bank without charges with effect from April 1, 2009, life seemed easier. This ATM freedom removed one more worrry of locating ATM of one's bank.

On the first bank-working day of new financial year i.e. April 2, 2009, banks did not seem to have geared up for this free service. In Dwarka sector-5, I tried ATM's of IDBI Bank, Federal Bank, Indian Bank. ICICI Bank to withdraw cash using SBI Debit card without success. Ultimately, SBI ATM of sector-11 came to my rescue & cash withdrawal could be completed.

Is it because banks are not in agreement so far over charges to be levied for such interbank transactions? Or the technical backend for information sharing is not in place? As the cutoff date had been decided, banks should have sorted out all technical or commercial issues by this time. Why should they make customer suffer?

This ATM freedom would help both banks & their customers.

Visual pollution in Dwarka

Dwarka sub city has slowly started its jouney towards resembling slums. Malba strewn all over, overflowing garbage bins, trash accumulating along main roads & service lanes can be seen in all corners of Dwarka and are a familiar sight.

One can now witness growing mushroom of loose cables jumping from one building to another, one street to another. These may be cables spread far & wide by Cable TV operators or even power cables providing jugaad connections. DDA pockets have already started resembling refined slums.

These cables are slowly spoiling skyline of Dwarka. This is VISUAL pollution. Don't authorities have some remedy for this menace?

Hazardous Footpaths of Dwarka

View

of
Sector-
10/11
Inter-
sector
Road
Near
Muthoot
Hospital
ground

Beware. Walk carefully on Dwarka sub city footpaths, but, only if you are covered by medical insurance. Ground underneath your foot may suddenly vanish & you would land on your face on the base of storm water drain.

View above is that of footpath along Muthoot Hospital ground on sector-10/11 intersector road in Dwarka. Inspection covers are found removed at 4 places on this stretch. It is not clear whether these have been stolen or removed by authorities themselves.

Road to nearby sector-11 Metro station has few more surprises. 5 inspection covers in a row are missing for quite some time. DDA authorities know about these covers, but, perhaps , are yet to decide on jurisdiction of right division for replacement.

DDA is requested to take immediate corrective action. Lest some unsuspecting person may fall & break his / her bones. Dwarka, in any case, is short on public hospitals.

DDA -Forgetful or Negligent?

View
of
Sector-10
service road
from
Fakhruddin Apartment
side

In October 2008, DDA had started recarpeting service road in sector-10 of Dwarka from one end. This service road starts from Godrej Apartments and passes in front of Saral Apartments, Shakuntalam Apartments, Maitri Apartments, DDA SFS Flats pocket-1, entire sector-10 central market and ends near Fakhruddin Apartments. Entire stretch was uneven, full of potholes, unauthorised speed breakers.

Recarpeting started from Godrej apartment side. In 6-7 days, relaid road was in place till start of central market. Then work stopped, perhaps, on account of Diwali holidays.

We waited for work to start after Diwali. Nothing happened. Weeks & months passed & still no action. Does DDA have a habit of forgetting? Or is it sheer negligence?

Road has further deteriorated. Pebbles are exposed on a larger stretch. Commuters have to literally crawl their vehicles from Fakhruddin apartment side.

Would DDA wake up & complete remaining portion of this service road?

Half-hearted Action by DDA in Dwarka

It was nice of DDA to take notice of problem associated with design of sector marker boards on all major road intersections in Dwarka sub city after publishing of my report in May 2008. 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.

DDA started working on re-modelling these boards and removed such boards from few intersections. Sadly, even after six months, properly designated sector marker boards have not been installed back. Recent picture of such board at one of the traffic intersections depicts the inaction on the part of DDA.

DDA is requested to change marking on all sector-marker boards in entire Dwarka in a time bound manner.

Violation of Metro Parking rules

Park & Ride has become a trend for Metro travel in Dwarka. Users of Metro generally reach Metro station by car, park their vehicle at parking area & ride Metro for their destination.

Rules are flouted openly by parking attendants in most of Metro stations in Dwarka. Parking attendant insists on upfront payment of parking charges in advance, despite clear guidelines spelt out in clause 2.5(f) of DMRC Parking License terms & conditions that " The staff of licensee will collect charges at the time of exit only. No charges will be collected at the time of entry of vehicles in parking",

DMRC parking license also stipulates in clause 17 a penalty of Rs. 1500/- for each violation of "Charging of parking fee at the time of entrance". As most of commuters are ignorant of such conditions, they fall prey to their pressure.

DMRC authorities are requested to publicise parking rules for the benefit of commuters & also put a stop to such harassment by parking attendants.