The national capital is home to a whopping 74.38 lakh vehicles, according to yearly data collected by the directorate of economics and statistics of the Delhi state government. And this figure excludes the number of vehicles that are not registered in Delhi but are still running through it.
As on December 31, 2011, the total number of registered vehicles in the Capital were 74,38,155. Out of these, 23,43,113 are cars and jeeps, 46,44,146 motorcycles and scooters, 88197 auto rickshaws, 69,780 taxis, 64,033 buses and 2,28,886 are goods vehicles. The length of roads in the Capital is 33918 kilo metre. It translates to 224 vehicles per kilometre in the capital.
Comparing the number of registered vehicles in the Capital with the length of road doesn’t really explain the grave traffic situation. Everyday over 1.2 million vehicles, whose intended destination is not Delhi, pass through its roads. This creates a traffic arrest.
At the end of the year 2010, the number of vehicles registered in the Capital were 69,32, 706. This number increased to 74,38,155 by December 2011, which means a little over five lakh vehicles were registered in the Capital in a span of 12 months. But the government is not complaining.
Even though there has been a significant increase in the number of vehicles and the residents of the Capital continue to endure endless traffic jams, especially during the office hours, the state government is reluctant to take tough action to curb the number vehicles.
In 2012-13, the state government will earn around Rs 1,370 crore. This amount represents five per cent of its receipts and thus translates into a big chunk of the government’s revenue. Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police, traffic branch feels Delhi is facing a serious situation due to the increase in the number of vehicles. He says, “Every vehicle needs parking space round the clock. It is equivalent to the space taken by one economically weaker section (EWS) apartment. Where is the parking space? This will lead to increase in time spent in traffic jams.” Garg stresses that all vehicles whose final destination is not Delhi should not pass through its roads. The 136 km long Kundli-Manesar-Palwal bypass (the longest in the country) being constructed to connect the three key towns of NCR will help deflect traffic.
- Sunday Standard