NEW DELHI: Alarmed by spike in accidents due to pedestrian movements at busy stretches across the national capital, the Public Works Department and Delhi Traffic police have decided to construct foot over-bridges (FOB) at seven locations in the city.
Approval for the safer pedestrian crossing at RTR Marg, Sarai Kale Khan ISBT, Nelson Mandela Marg, Tamil Sangam Marg at RK Puram Sector 6, Harswaroop Colony Bus Stop on SSN Marg, Lawrence Road Industrial Area in Shakarpur, road near New Era Public School in Maya Puri were given at a meeting of the FOB/ Subway Committee held earlier this month. Proposals for three other places were rejected by the committee after inspections of the sites.
On an average, 495 people cross the road at Sarai Kale Khan ISBT without any pedestrian facilities, between 6 and 7 pm every day, found a feasibility study conducted by the panel.
Similarly, South Delhi’s Harswaroop Colony Bus Stop on SSN Marg, which had a request pending since May 2017, has roughly 1,083 people cross the road during the day while as many as 17,714 vehicles pass during peak hours in the evening.
A footfall survey revealed that roughly 2,497 pedestrians cross the road near Mohan Singh Market in RK Puram Sector 6 which has about 43,861 vehicles pass in 12 hours. Roughly 84,407 vehicles use the Rau Tula Ram Marg in South West Delhi in 12 hours. At Baba Gang Nath Mandir on Nelson Mandela Marg, as per the survey conducted by the panel, approximately 2,497 people cross the road while the numbers of vehicles plying is estimated at 43,861.
“The major victims of lack of such pedestrian facilities in the city are the school children. Despite that, foot over bridges in Delhi mostly lie unused. Subways are mostly preferred by the pedestrians. As per my evaluation, escalators are will encourage people to use the bridges,” said P K Sarkar, Director (Transportation), Asian Institute of Transport Development.
According to the Delhi Police, in 2017, 700 fatal accidents took place on Delhi roads, 70 per cent of which involved pedestrians.