Pedestrians look the other way

The Delhi Traffic Police kicked off a pedestrian safety week on Monday and insists the emphasis is more on educating than prosecuting this time. However, when Sobhana K checked at five traffic spots, she found the traffic policemen were mute spectators to violations at some points, and at others pedestrians did not know what rules to follow

Krishi Bhavan
With several government offices located here, peak hours see heavy pedestrian movement. Ongoing work on the Metro has left little space for pedestrians. And while pedestrian safety week hoardings have been put up, and a haggard traffic cop occasionally does herd pedestrians towards the footpath, they continue to cross the road miles away from the zebra crossing. This might have something to do with vehicles standing on the zebra crossing. "May be these drives will help in disciplining a small percentage of the people," Sunder Rajan, a government servant, says seconds before he himself darts across the road, away from the zebra crossing.

India Gate
The traffic police have put up lights at the India Gate roundabout to facilitate pedestrians. Pelican Signals have also been provided to ensure pedestrians have the freedom to press a button and stop vehicles and cross. However, neither were the pedestrians aware of the Pelican Signals, nor were they working. There is ample deployment of traffic police constables at each road cutting off from India Gate. However, none of them were seen informing pedestrians or motorists about the safety week.

INA Market
With Delhi Haat on one side and the INA Market on the other, this stretch sees a constant flow of pedestrians. The subway is at some distance from the bus stand, and those who can manage jump the railing for a shortcut across the road. The not-so-adventurous just squeeze through the iron railing. Women, meanwhile, look for a gap in the railing to cross the road. There was no traffic officer or board to inform the pedestrians about the perils of jumping across. "Why have a pedestrian week when they cannot even have facilities for pedestrians? What is the use of building a subway nearly half-a-km away from the bus stand?" Jency Mathews, a nurse at AIIMS, said.

... contd.

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