Delhi plans swift action to clear road congestion
In a bid to tackle the persistent traffic congestion in the national capital, the Delhi Police has joined forces with the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) to streamline the management of bus breakdowns. Chaired by Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ajay Chaudhry, a high-level meeting on Thursday set forth a series of measures aimed at minimising disruptions caused by stalled buses, which have been a key contributor to gridlocks across the city.
Officials highlighted that a new system of real-time tracking and rapid response is being implemented to expedite the clearance of breakdowns. Presently, DTC buses that suffer mechanical failures take approximately 90 minutes to be attended to, significantly impeding the flow of traffic. The transport body has committed to reducing this response time to 60 minutes by identifying congestion-prone zones where such breakdowns frequently occur. These locations will now see the strategic deployment of cranes and recovery vans to swiftly tow buses off the main carriageways and restore traffic movement.
Among the worst-affected areas in the capital is the Janakpuri-Delhi Cantonment corridor, where stalled buses have routinely resulted in long snarls. The new approach includes stationing recovery vans at ten key locations across the city, which will be equipped with GPS tracking and connected to a centralised data hub. This data centre will facilitate real-time monitoring of breakdown incidents, allowing authorities to respond with greater efficiency. Additionally, a dedicated WhatsApp group will enable immediate coordination between traffic police and transport officials, ensuring that any disruption is swiftly addressed before it spirals into a major bottleneck. Another significant move is the introduction of a dress code for recovery teams, which will help traffic police and commuters identify personnel responsible for clearing stalled vehicles. Recovery vans will also be marked distinctly for seamless visibility. Furthermore, DTC has prioritised locations with frequent VVIP movement to ensure that dignitary convoys are not caught in traffic snarls due to sudden breakdowns. These efforts align with broader objectives of sustainable urban mobility, ensuring that Delhi’s roads are not just decongested but also contribute to a more efficient and eco-friendly transport system.
The capital’s perennial traffic woes have long been exacerbated by inadequate breakdown management, forcing commuters to spend hours on choked roads. The latest measures come as part of a larger vision to build a seamless, well-integrated transport infrastructure that not only prioritises efficiency but also sustainability. As authorities move to implement these strategies, the challenge will lie in sustaining momentum and ensuring that response teams are adequately equipped and trained to deliver on these ambitious targets. Whether this initiative translates into lasting relief for Delhi’s commuters will depend on the execution, but for now, the city takes a crucial step towards a more organised and decongested road network.
