A high-powered government appointed panel on "Decongestion of Traffic in Delhi" has recommended disincentivizing use of private vehicles through deterrent parking pricing and congestion tax. It has also recommended no more huge investment in building flyovers and signal-free corridors.

NEW DELHI: A high-powered government appointed panel on "Decongestion of Traffic in Delhi" has recommended disincentivizing use of private vehicles through deterrent parking pricing and congestion tax. It has also recommended no more huge investment in building flyovers and signal-free corridors.

The panel has recommended Rs 20,000 crore interventions through BRTS, buses, walking and cycling infrastructure.

Headed by urban development secretary Rajiv Gauba, the committee has noted that 21 per cent of the city’s space is already under roads with limited scope for road network expansion. About 60 per cent of passenger trips are below four kilometre distances and 80 per cent below six kilometre lengths, which are ideal for non-motorized transport.

It has recommended development of necessary infrastructure for promoting walking and cycling in the national capital. It also opined that automobile centric planning with focus on road widening, construction of more and more flyovers, foot-over-bridges and under passes have only promoted increased use of private vehicles, which are meeting only less than 20 per cent of transport needs and should not be encouraged unless warranted by natural barriers like rivers.

The committee also expressed serious concern over mushrooming of gated communities in the city, which are compelling local traffic to come onto main roads by preventing short cuts for movement of people.

The panel has called for various interventions over the next five years to enable 80 per cent share for public transport and non-motorized trips in total transportation in the city where in the total passenger trips are estimated to increase to 280 lakhs per day in 2021 from a mere 45 lakh trips in 1981 and 144 lakhs in 2008.

Expressing concern over 18 different Central and Delhi government departments and agencies handling different aspects of transportation in the city region, the panel recommended a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority for better coordination, quick decision-making and execution.

Some of the key recommendations include making fully-paid rented or owned where the fee will be decided based on area of the city, duration and size of the vehicles. Parking on footpaths should be made cognizable offence under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act and penal charges for parking violations to be 10 times the normal rates.

For pedestrain safety, it has recommended earmarking more crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, at least at every 250 metres and avoiding signal-free corridors as they invite more private vehicles on roads.

Considering the fact that two-wheelers have become a substitute for public transport, the panel has recommended that bus fares should be priced less than per km cost of running a two wheeler and immediate procurement of 2,000 buses and another 4,000 in the next phase.

The panel has recommended construction of five BRTS corridors - Karwal Nagar–Moti Gate (12.90 kms), Gazipur NH-24 –National Stadium (12 kms), Dishal Garden Metro Station-Tikri Border (40 kms), Badarpur Border – International Airport via Mahipalpur (26.10 kms) and Harsh Vihar-Janakpuri District Centre-Janakpuri D Block (33 kms).