Delhi’s metro stations have long been battling with congestion issues outside their premises. But now, relief seems to be on the horizon. The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, V.K. Saxena, has instructed the formation of a dedicated unit to address these challenges. This move is expected to alleviate the troubles faced by the commuters.
To effectively implement a multi-modal system at several metro stations in Delhi, a project management unit will be set up under the direction of Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena. This unit will not only involve the Delhi Metro authorities but also officials from relevant local bodies. The intent behind establishing this unit is to overcome the obstacles faced in implementing the multi-modal system outside metro stations. With its establishment, it is believed that the troubles faced by commuters will significantly decrease.
It’s noteworthy that many Delhi metro stations are surrounded by haphazardly parked vehicles, e-rickshaws, and pushcart vendors, leading to blockages for pedestrians. This often results in traffic jams and makes entry and exit from the stations difficult for commuters. To counter these issues, there had been talks of implementing a multi-modal system. Under this system, dedicated lanes for buses, e-rickshaws, etc., are created, and any encroachments are removed.
Sources from the Raj Niwas (official residence of the Lieutenant Governor) stated that several agencies, apart from the metro, need to work in harmony to make the multi-modal system effective. These include the Public Works Department responsible for road maintenance, the Municipal Corporation, and the Delhi Transport Corporation overseeing bus lanes and stops. Traffic police play a crucial role in ensuring there’s no congestion caused by e-rickshaws and other vehicles. However, it has been observed that agencies, other than the metro, have been somewhat passive in their approach.
This is precisely why the Lieutenant Governor has called for the creation of the project management unit. This unit will have representatives from all the agencies and departments, ensuring better coordination among them, leading to a more efficient system. Earlier this year, in March, a decision was taken to implement the multi-modal integration system at Shadipur, Mayur Vihar, and Peergarhi metro stations.
