Aurobindo Marg does a U-turn

In comparison to last year’s 9 deaths till Aug 15, only 1 person has died on the stretch this year.

Infamous for being among the 20 deadliest road stretches in Delhi till last year, Aurobindo Marg has today become one of the safest for road users.

HT Image

A major arterial road in south Delhi that connects the historic Safdarjung’s Tomb with Qutab Minar, Aurobindo Marg recorded an average of 13 road deaths till last year. This year, however, only one death has been recorded to date.

Traffic police officials claimed that certain steps had resulted in the sharp decline.

"We have taken measures to restrict the speed of vehicles on the road. Only one person has been killed in a road accident this year as of now. This is a record," said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

The accident happened on the morning of July 20, when a pedestrian died after being hit by an unknown vehicle.

Till August 15 last year, as many as nine persons were killed in accidents on the road. This included five pedestrians, one two-wheeler rider, one car driver, one riding an auto-rickshaw and one cyclist. Thirteen people were killed during the year.

Since then, the traffic police have put four pedestrian lights, two speed-calming rumble strips and one traffic signal on the 2.5-km stretch connecting IIT flyover and Lodhi Road crossing on Aurobindo Marg.

Pedestrian lights have been placed near Aurobindo Marg-Jor Bagh Road crossing, entry and exit gates of AIIMS hospital and Yusuf Sarai, rumble strips near Delhi Haat and Hoshiar Singh Marg and traffic signal at IOC near Hauz Khas.

Road users, however, have complained that these steps have slowed down traffic on the stretch and at times cause jams.

“We are examining whether we can do away with the problem. If it is feasible, we will do it,” said a traffic police officer.