Not enough tow-away cranes for lanes

Trial runs on designated lanes for vehicles of athletes and officials have begun but the traffic police are still in the process of hiring tow-away cranes. Karan Choudhury reports.

It seems getting anything and everything is a pipe dream for Delhi Police.

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The latest in the list are tow-away cranes for the Commonwealth Games.

Trial runs on designated lanes for vehicles of athletes and officials have begun but the traffic police are still in the process of hiring tow-away cranes.

These cranes will be required to tow away vehicles that might break down on the special route any time during the 12-day event.

Though the police claimed they have adequate number of tow-away cranes, the reality is they are still in the process of hiring special cranes for the Games lanes.

The traffic police require as many as 45 of them for the special routes.

The police argue as they are still conducting trial runs on the designated lanes, tow-away cranes are not required right away.

Special Commissioner of Police Ajay Chadha said, "We are not worried. We have adequate number of tow-away cranes at this time. As we are in the early stages of trial runs, we do not require that many cranes. We will hire the vehicles before the games."

The traffic police plan to float short-term tenders to hire these cranes or if that does not work out, then they will directly hire from suppliers.

"Even the Delhi Transporta-tion Corporation (DTC) will provide us with tow-away cranes at 13 locations," added Chadha.

Around 110 cranes were supposed to be hired for the city but the traffic police have only 55 cranes.

The police believe the shortage will not affect the general traffic or the CWG.

"Those cranes are being hired for a period of two years and their purpose is different. The cranes that are being hired for the Games are exclusively to be used for the Games," added Chadha.

Some of the places where the designated route goes are SP Marg, Bhairon Road, Mathura Road and Airport Road among others.