Govt for 2,000 ` penalty if cycle lanes blocked

The Delhi government has proposed to impose a penalty of ` 2,000 on anyone obstructing the movement of e- rickshaws and bicycles in non- motorised vehicle lanes, including cycle tracks.

According to the proposal, parking and other types of obstruction like encroachments in non- motorised vehicle lanes will be included in the violation of rules.

City public works department minister Satyendar Jain said the AAP government has sent the proposal to lieutenant- governor Najeeb Jung for his approval and after receiving his nod, it will be implemented in the national capital.

“The proposal favours imposing a fine of ` 2,000 on those obstructing movement of e- rickshaws in the form of parking or encroachment in the non-motorised vehicle lanes,” the PWD minister said.

As per a rough estimate, the non- motorised vehicle lanes are currently spread over 30 km of roads, but most of which are either used for parking or have been encroached by locals.

“The non- motorised vehicle lanes will be marked on roads so that the motorists do not obstruct plying of cycles and e- rickshaws in such lanes,” Mr Jain added.

The AAP government has already sent another proposal of creating bus lanes on major roads of the capital to the lieutenant- governor’s office and obstructing plying of buses in dedicated lanes will attract a fine

City public works department minister Satyendar Jain said the AAP government has sent the proposal to lieutenant- governor Najeeb Jung for his approval and after receiving his nod, it will be implemented in the national capital

The proposal favours imposing a fine of 2,000 on those obstructing movement of e- rickshaws in the form of parking or encroachment

of ` 2,000. If the proposal is approved, the new rules are expected to help ease traffic chaos and snarls that have become a regular feature after e- rickshaws became operational. The proposal will make a paradigm shift towards the city being more public transport- centric.

Meanwhile, another highlevel meeting to decongest Delhi was convened by the Union urban development ministry. Apart from various other issues, it was decided that parking on footpaths will be made a cognisable offence.

In order to ensure strict compliance, the PWD department has proposed to give “special powers” to junior engineers to impound vehicles and challan motorists obstructing plying of buses in dedicated lanes under a proposed law.