Parked cars occupy more road space than moving traffic on Vikas Marg

NEWDELHI: A key link between east and central Delhi, Vikas Marg is a six-lane road (three on each carriageway) with almost no potholes. However, it is one of the most congested arterial roads in Delhi due to several bottlenecks created at many points by illegally parked cars and two-wheelers, which leave little motorable space.

Vikas Marg was one of the 2,183 streets declared commercial in September 2006 by Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The order turned the road, which had a series of spacious residential buildings, into a clogged stretch with no space for pedestrians or any one attempting to drive through. Unauthorised exten- sions by retail outlets make most of the walking space unnavigable.

“The situation has only worsened in the last 13 years after the road has been declared commercial. A number of showrooms, banquets, malls and commercial complexes have opened up on both sides of the road. And since there is no parking on the main stretch, shop owners and visitors leave their vehicles on roadsides or pavements,” said BS Vohra, president of East Delhi RWAS.

The road is yet to see action by the Centre’s special task force on illegal encroachments, the civic agencies claim to undertake regular drives.

The 1.5 kilometre stretch from Lalita Park to Nirman Vihar traffic signal sees bumper-to-bumper traffic even during non-peak hours. “The showrooms, which otherwise had larger spaces have eventually been disintegrated into smaller shops to make extra money. For example, in a 200 square yards plot there are at least 30 shops or coaching centres on ground and upper floors,” said Akhilesh Mishra, a resident of Shakarpur.

Each of these shops has two to three vehicles, which are parked on the road and service lane. “The situation is so pathetic that one can’t locate the pavement or service lane here,” said Mishra.

In 2010, Delhi Metro’s Blue Line came up, with people hoping that it would relieve the road of chaos. However, it only ended up congesting the road. Now, e-rickshaws, autos and cars parked near the Metro stations on the road have become the latest bot- tlenecks on Vikas Marg.

“Neither the traffic police nor the civic agencies have been able to remove the e-rickshwas, gramin sewa or autos which are parked near the stations,” said SK Srivastava, a resident of Laxmi Nagar.

Last year, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal directed the authorities to remove encroachments on 29 major roads, including the stretch from ITO to Vikas Marg.

“On L-G’S direction, we are carrying crackdown on temporary encroachments every week and challaning parked vehicles as per Delhi Municipal Act. This is in addition to penalising contractors who were allowing parking on roads,” said Ranbir Singh, commissioner, East Delhi Municipal Corporation.