Most vehicles on Delhi-NCR roads not fit to ply: Study

NEW DELHI: Majority of public transport vehicles in the national capital region ( NCR) are plying on roads without proper fitness certificate, says a survey conducted in the wake of a gang rape incident in a moving bus in Delhi.

The Assocahm study also said majority of drivers in the city do not have a valid driving licence and traffic norms are being violated every day in the national capital.

"Violation of the traffic norm reveals that the fitness certificate issued to public transport vehicles are below standard. Nearly 82 per cent of the public transport vehicles in the Delhi-NCR are commuting without fitness certificate," it said.

The chamber said it has checked a total of 2,000 vehicles. As per estimates, the city has over 65 lakh vehicles.

The survey comes in the wake of the gang rape incident of a paramedical student in a bus plying illegally in Delhi on December 16.

About 55 per cent of drivers running vehicles including cabs are below the age of 18 years, it said.

Majority of the drivers lacked sufficient knowledge of traffic rules and regulation and the fitness of their vehicles, it said.

Assocham has suggested the Delhi Traffic to have a centralised database of vehicle registration and smart card based driving licences in Delhi-NCR for tracing the ownership of a vehicle involved in an act of crime.

"In Delhi-NCR, approximately 15-18 lakhs licenses issued every year. Therefore, it is imperative to have a robust, efficient and reliable system," the survey said.

"It is estimated that 82 per cent of commercial vehicles on the roads either did not have fitness certificates, or obtained them through fraudulent means," it said.

It said that drunk driving, drinking and loitering, driving with tinted glass and other unlawful activities should be dealt firmly and all public transport should have to install GPS device for their close monitoring.

"Enforcement alone is not the solution, the proper awareness and entire road culture has to be changed and correct traffic engineering measures needs to be in place," it added.

The survey further said that there should be functional installed CCTV cameras at all vulnerable points.

It also asked for a vigorous campaign on the electronic, radio and print media to create awareness among the general public about traffic rules.