Delhi Traffic Police officials were on Wednesday slowing down traffic on the Dwarka flyover and cracking down on drivers even as DDA officials continued to install speedbreakers and rumble strips in their misguided efforts to make the flyover ‘safe’.
It’s absurd to have such impediments on a flyover because it only increases the possibility of drivers coming at high speed and losing balance at the curves. Instead, a differential speed limit would be the ideal solution. But a knee-jerk reaction to the crisis has generated a bad solution.
According to DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar, ‘‘All necessary measures are being taken to keep a check on the speed of motorists on the flyover and make the sharp curves more visible.’’ She said more speedbreakers and rumble strips, and bigger signages and halogen strips on the railings were being installed.The traffic police have put up big banners and posters across the flyover cautioning motorists to drive safely. Speed sensors have been deployed and extra cops roped in to check ‘‘offenders’’.
The road users though feel that it is impossible to adhere to the speed limit of 50 kmph (25 kmph at the bends). ‘‘As soon as you cross the underpass after the domestic airport, it’s a straight wide road in good condition with only one traffic light and streamlined traffic flow. If you drive slowly, the people behind you will keep honking. They should increase the speed limit,’’ said Deep Seth, an entrepreneur who stays in Dwarka.
Others feel speed is just a red herring. ‘‘What about the faulty design of the flyover which has these treacherous turns and the small inconsistent signages? It’s too late to change the design of the flyover but they can raise the height of the railings or put up a wired mesh so that people don’t fall over or install cat eyes on the entire stretch so that people know where the divider is or where the road ends,’’ said Samarjeet Khurana, an engineer from Dwarka.
Meanwhile, Palam MLA Dharam Dev Solanki conducted a havan on the flyover to make it ‘‘problem free’’ on Wednesday. The havan was held on the extended road patch over the railway line. ‘‘We are conducting this havan to end the spate of deaths. Hindus invoke the divine forces for safety,’’ said Solanki. He said constructing a temple on the flyover was now on their agenda.
Delhi Police and DDA have found a cure that’s worse than the disease. They are building speedbreakers and rumble strips on the Dwarka flyover to slow down traffic and prevent accidents in the future. It’s a stupid idea simply because hitting a speedbreaker or a rumble strip in speed worsens the vehicle’s road grip, making it more vulnerable to losing balance. These ad hoc measures will only make the flyover riskier. The plan should be abandoned rightaway and instead there should be big flashing warning signals at bends to slow down traffic there.
