JOIN US'Run more buses for Trans Yamuna'
Traffic police have asked Delhi Transport Corporation to introduce new direct bus routes between New Delhi and Trans Yamuna to reduce congestion and enhance pedestrian safety at ITO.
Ram Chandra Agrawal Chowk, better known as ITO chowk, is one of the busiest intersections in the city as it witnesses heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Prone to accidents
While the pedestrians are more prone to accidents at this intersection, traffic congestion is also a reason to worry about. Traffic police officers said increasing the number of direct buses would reduce congestion and enhance passenger safety.
“Due to inadequate number of DTC buses from New Delhi towards Trans Yamuna areas, ITO has become a pedestrian interchange as commuters change buses for north and east Delhi from there,” said a senior traffic official.
“Long queues at bus stops near ITO is a common scene. Therefore, a request has been made to the DTC chairman to induct more buses serving the commuters travelling between New Delhi and Trans Yamuna areas,” the official added.
According to DTC officials, over 1,000 buses across 50 routes are catering to New Delhi and Trans Yamuna areas.
Some of the major buses boarded by commuters at ITO include Anand Vihar-Hari Nagar (73), Anand Vihar-Punjabi Bagh (85), Anand Vihar-West Enclave (85 Ext), Anand Vihar-Uttam Nagar, Shahadra-Vasant Vihar (623).
While the DTC chairman, officials said, has decided to hold a meeting with officials of the department concerned for route rationalisation, additional buses are likely to be inducted only after DTC gets over 600 buses under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
However, the old standard floor-buses which have outlived their utility will be replaced soon.
Meanwhile, the traffic police have also asked DTC to press more buses into service in outer areas of the capital like Jaitpur, Badarpur, Tughlakabad, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Chattarpur, Mahipalpur, Vasant Kunj, Tigri, Najafgarh, Rohini, Bawana, Burari and Timarpur.
They said many vehicles ply without valid permits in these areas due to lack of DTC buses. Other modes of transport like Gramin Sewa, in fact, have added to traffic woes as the drivers do not follow designated routes, an official said.