12 Sep : Brace up for traffic troubles for the next two days as the city police will be conducting trials on lanes reserved for Commonwealth Games during the morning and evening rush hours.
While the trials on four stretches will be held between 4 PM and 6 PM on Monday, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyendra Garg said, it will be held on Tuesday in the morning between 8 AM and 10 AM.
The routes are Ring Road from Chandgi Ram Akhara to Mal Road, NH-24 Ring Road crossing to Gazipur crossing on NH-24, Ma Anand Mai Marg at Kalkaji to Dr. Karani Singh Stadium at Surajkund Road via MB Road and Panchsheel Marg Sardar Patel Road intersection to Mother Teressa Crescent upto RML.
Traffic personnel are warning that there could also be jams on arterial roads which fall on the stretch.
The trials on several stretches this month had thrown the traffic out of gear. Police had conducted trials on five days this month.
“Earlier the trials were conducted for a period of three hours beginning 11 AM. Now we want to know its impact during the peak hours,” a senior police official said.
The trials are meant to familiarise commuters about the pattern of traffic movement during the Games, he said.
The exclusive lanes for Games will come into effect from 20th September and those straying into these lanes will be penalised Rs 2,000 and their vehicles will be impounded.
A notification to this effect has been issued by Lieutenant Governor’s office.
“Traffic Police has made elaborate arrangements for smooth movement of Commonwealth Games related traffic during the event,” the official said.
Initially, the restrictions on Games lanes will be operational during night time only as international flights carrying athletes are scheduled during those hours.
Though the route from Games Village to competition venues and airport will have a dedicated lane, there will be no such facility for practice venues.
The lane may be thrown open for public when no Games vehicle is scheduled to use it, the official said.
Public has been advised to avoid as far as possible CWG lanes in general and Safdurjung Road, Kamal Ataturk Marg, Panchsheel Marg, Sardar Patel Marg, Siri Fort Road, Harsukh Marg, Purana Qila Road and Mother Teresa Crescent Road in particular as these roads are having two lanes in one carriageway and one lane has already been reserved for Games-related traffic.