Fix the Ashram traffic crisis

Bad planning has led to chaos at one of Delhi’s busiest junctions.Given that the work is expected to take at least a month-and-a-half, there is still a window to repair matters

Delhi has been quick off the mark to make the first addition of the new year to a continually growing volume of material that someone may someday compile into a book titled “How not to undertake a large roadwork project”. Work at one of the city’s busiest intersections, Ashram, linking the eastern part of the city to the southern; the southern with the central; and Delhi itself with its satellite Noida has created chaos — and given that most schools are yet to reopen after the winter break, and many people are still on vacation, things can only get worse from next week. All the usual suspects were involved in the making of the mess — no advance planning (and, therefore, no communication, simply because there was nothing to communicate); poor co-ordinations between the various agencies involved; and inadequate management. At peak hours in the morning and evening, jams originating at the intersection radiate to all parts of Delhi. And crossing it during non-peak hours has become an ordeal even as regular commuters look for alternative routes.

The Ashram project is not the first one where the various agencies and officials involved assume that it’s all right to inconvenience people because of the greater (and eventual) good, and, therefore, do not spend too much time and effort trying to minimise this inconvenience; and it won’t be the last either. (Hindustan Times)

In an ideal world, traffic load and pattern would have been studied and modelled, alternative routes planned and created with adequate signage, the changes, communicated through mass media and also residents’ associations (all of which have WhatsApp groups), and the actual start of work would have been accompanied by aggressive management, not just around the intersection but at key roads leading into and away from it, and those in other parts of the Capital that are expected to see an increase in traffic on account of the work.

That has not happened. And the response to the crisis so far has over-emphasised management of traffic around the intersection itself. Given that the work is expected to take at least a month-and-a-half, there is still a window to repair matters by understanding traffic flow, identifying and communicating alternative routes, and managing upstream and downstream choke points.

The Ashram project is not the first one where the various agencies and officials involved assume that it’s all right to inconvenience people because of the greater (and eventual) good, and, therefore, do not spend too much time and effort trying to minimise this inconvenience; and it won’t be the last either. This is a mentality they will have to grow out of — and is an important aspect of ease of living. It’s equally important to ensure that the work now sticks to the announced deadline. This is one project that can’t afford to miss deadlines.