HC frowns at PWD, traffic police for not decongesting traffic

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has taken strong exception to the city government, traffic police and DDA not complying with its order on decongesting traffic on the busy single-lane flyover at Rao Tula Ram Marg connecting the airport, saying money is "going down the drain".

"You (government and other authorities) had to comply with our order and directions, but you have not done so," a bench of justices B D Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva said.

"It is money going down the drain, let me tell you this," Justice Sachdeva also remarked with respect to work the Public Works Department ( PWD) claimed to have done to decongest traffic.

PWD, in response, said it had already showed the bench, by way of presentation and maps, the measures it intends to take, like removing encroachments from the alternative roads and preventing parking on them, to decongest traffic.

It said that subsequent to it apprising the court about these measures, PWD was allowed to go on with its project of building a three-lane flyover from Munirka till Army Research and Referral Hospital on the Outer Ring Road, parallel to the existing Rao Tula Ram flyover.

The residents of Vasant Vihar, who have filed an application alleging "abject failure" on the part of PWD to comply with court directions, contended that encroachments are still present on the Nelson Mandela Marg junction as well as DDA bypass road.

They have sought that till PWD and other authorities ensure that traffic is de-congested, they be not allowed to go ahead with their flyover project.

The bench, however, remarked that no useful discussion could be had without having a map of the area and listed the matter for further hearing on September 9.

It also issued notice to the city government and other authorities and asked them to file status reports in response to the contentions made in a fresh application moved by residents of Vasant Vihar.