Devise alternative routes to ease pressure on Delhi roads: NGT

The National Green Tribunal has slammed Delhi Police for submitting an "outdated" traffic plan to reduce pressure on the overburdened roads in the capital while directing it to devise fresh alternative routes for commercial vehicles passing through Delhi.
"The volume of traffic which existed in 2002 is just a fragment of what exists now. What is your action plan on the current traffic in Delhi and the vehicles coming from outside? The number of vehicles have significantly increased from the year 2002. The situation is much worse now," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The observations came after Delhi police submitted the traffic action plan, formulated in 2002, aimed at decongesting city roads. The action plan suggested alternate routes through Panipat-Sonipat, Najafgarh and Gurgaon.

The tribunal pulled up Delhi Police for "submitting an outdated" traffic plan and sought a map suggesting alternative routes to reduce pressure of the heavy vehicular traffic till the time Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressway are constructed.
"The current status of traffic, particularly heavy traffic of transport vehicles passing through Delhi, is very different. Give us a latest view on this issue," the bench said while directing the officials to hold a meeting within a week.
The green panel also directed senior officers concerned from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to participate in the meeting and suggest interim measures to counter the bottlenecks and other obstructions on the suggested alternative routes.

Earlier, Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA) had approached the tribunal alleging that commercial vehicles passing through the capital were flouting directions of the Supreme Court.

SCWLA had contended that the apex court in 2001 had categorically stated that "There is no reason why a very large number of goods vehicles should transit through Delhi thereby adding to the pollution level and the traffic."
"It is, therefore, proposed that with effect from January 15, 2002, no heavy, medium or light goods vehicles will ply on inter-state routes by passing through Delhi or New Delhi.
"... Commissioner of police is directed to formulate a scheme in this regard and give due publicity to all concerned and implement it," the apex court had said.