Suggestions on Draft Parking Policy in Delhi - Rajiv Kakria

DATED: 12-07-2017

To

Special Commissioner Transport

Room No. 208, Second Floor,

Transport Department, GNCT of Delhi,

5/9 Underhill Road, Delhi-110054.

Subject:- Response / Suggestions on Draft Parking Policy in Delhi

Preamble: On the street people think ...... all Such Policies are made MORE FOR REVENUE GENERATION for the Government  ........ THAN TO OFFER ANY SOLUTION to the Problem created in the first place due to GOVERNMENT APATHY AND NON IMPLEMENTATION of dully laid out Rules and Laws .......

........ Please look at previous attempts at giving Parking Solutions ...... Charging ONE TIME PARKING CESS and collection of CONVERSION CHARGES UNDER MPD-2021 ......... Millions of Rupees have been collected without any accountability and no corresponding Parking Infrastructure developed in the past Decade.

Dear Sir,

This has reference to the Advertisement published on 12^th July 2017 in various News Papers on the above subject.Following are my suggestions .......

PREPARE A THREE YEAR PARKING ROAD MAP (Short, Medium and Long Term), with clear deadlines with the help of Data Collected and Additional Surveys:-

SHORT TERM:-

1. DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN DYNAMIC AND DEAD PARKING – discourage people who use cars for Home-Office-Home travel, turning scarce Parking Space unproductive (Dead) for 8-14 hours. Shoppers and Visitors to offices for meetings etc occupy Parking Space (Dynamic) for a limited period of time and the same space is utilised multiple times, giving a fillip to Business.DEAD PARKING should be discouraged and made prohibitive ..... DYNAMIC PARKING Rates should be of 15 Minute Pulse, to encourage people to conclude business promptly and save money.
2. PARKING FEE BASED ON SIZE OF CAR – To encourage use of small cars Parking Fee should be charged based on length of car, as one BMW occupies twice as much space as an I10.

3. INTRODUCE POINT TO POINT AC CHARTERED/SHUTTLE BUSSES – Care should be taken that Office goers are not inconvenienced and transport BEFITTING THEIR STATURE be made available at reasonable rates. People use Personal Transport out of compulsion due to lack of COMFORTABLE, SAFE & SURE TRANSPORT.
4. STOP FLEECING BY AUTO/ TAXIS AND SURGE PRICING BY UBER / OLA: Autos have been notorious for Refusals and Overcharging. Now Uber and Ola are also fleecing hapless commuters, charging 1.5X to 3.9X SURGE PRICING. If citizens can be fined Rs. 2000/- then Service providers should also be penalised for Malpractice. INTRODUCE UNIFORM PRICING.
5. ENFORCE LANE DISCIPLINE – Traffic Police should be instructed to enforce Lane Discipline and man Traffic Lights instead of hiding behind Trees to net offenders and pocket bribes.
6. REMOVE BOTTLE NECKS ON ROADS – Potholes; Encroachments/Vendors; Parking on Roads; Religious Places; Trees; Defunct Electricity Poles etc. create congestion and slows the traffic.

MEDIUM TERM:-

1. CREATE HALTING ZONES FOR AUTOS, GRAMIN SEVAS, TAXIS ETC – Traffic Jams are often noticed near Bus Stops/Metro Stations, Traffic Signals, Market/Hospital Entrances, Street Corners etc as these modes of transport bunch up at such spots usurping one or more lanes.
2. IMPROVE LAST MILE CONNECTIVITY  – This proposal has been in the Pipeline for so long that it seems like a Pipedream, surely it is not as difficult as it seems.
3. PUT THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE – Multiple modes of Public Transport adhering to a strict timetable be introduced in consultation with experts.

4. CREATE SUBWAYS AND PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS – Lack of pedestrian facilities make the roads dangerous and are the cause for traffic snarls, when people give up private transport there will be manifold increase in Pedestrian Traffic, so this aspect MUST GET PRIORITY.

5. INSTALL NUMBER PLATE READING CCTVS - E-Chalaan traffic offenders and Trucks who enter the city before Entry Hours (which is Rampant)

LONG TERM:-

1. IMPROVE ROAD ENGINEERING AND POSITIONING OF BUS STOPS – Go anywhere in Delhi, most traffic jams occur at the start and end of a Flyover, due to merging traffic and positioning of Bus stops close to the Flyover.

2. EXPEDITE COURT CASES FOR ROAD WIDENING – Ring Road at Nariana is a good example of what can be achieved by acquiring land for road widening …… there are many such points all over Delhi that are stuck in Court Cases.

3. BAN PURCHASE OF VEHICLE (PRIVATE OR COMMERCIAL) WITHOUT PROOF OF PARKING SPACE – Introduce differential Fee Structure for parking on Public Land with a percentage increase for 2^nd, 3^rd or 4th Vehicle Registered per Dwelling Unit instead of per family member. A HIGH COURT RULING FOR HOUSING SOCIETY, RESTRICTING ONE PARKING SLOT PER DWELLING UNIT IS WORTH EMULATING FOR EQUITABLE USE OF PUBLIC SPACES. Fleet owners should create own Parking Zones instead of using up public spaces.

4. INTRODUCE FIRST CLASS COMPARTMENTS ON METRO – Airlines, Trains, Busses, Mumbai Suburban all have 1^st Class compartments.

5. VERIVICATION AND LINKING OF ADHAAR CARD OF DRIVER AND OWNER WITH VEHICLE RC- Safe, Secure and Sure availability of Transport irrespective of distance and area of travel will surely encourage citizens towards Public Transport. Today we cannot dream of allowing Ladies Travelling alone at night to or from Airport / Station etc.

6. PARKING FOR RESIDENTIAL AREAS- (A) MPD 2021 talks of parking as a composite entity ….. whereas the ground reality is that Parking in Commercial Areas and Residential Areas ought to be treated and addressed separately. While collecting Conversion Charges on account of additional floor and FAR for a residential plot …. parking has to be provided for the needs of the area residents ……. Whereas the only Parking Lots being planned are in Colony Markets and not for residents. (B) While framing ECS parking norms, Sangam Vihar and Greater Kailash ground realities must be kept in mind, one has more smaller cars while upscale colonies have SUVs Saloons ….. Can ECS norms be framed on same benchmarks ?????

SUGGESTION: (A) Areas should be identified with the help of RWAs ….. underground parking in large Colony Parks, Community Centres or Religious Places should be developed for Residential Parking. Parking lots should not be allowed on B.O.T. basis by allowing space for commercial activities. The expensive fully automated parking lots should be avoided to make the projects more viable …. Instead residents should be encouraged to form Co-operatives and allotted parking spaces on payment as is prevalent in Housing Societies. (B) Different ECS norms are needed for Sangam Vihar and Greater Kailash as bigger cars need more parking space as also larger manoeuvring area.

It seems, till now Governments and Municipalities were only interested in creating money making avenues for their Staff and Contractors. Citizens did not figure in their scheme of things ...... HOPE THIS TIME ROUND THE POLICY WILL BE HOLISTICALLY THOUGHT THROUGH. These are preliminary submissions, I request you to give me an opportunity to elaborate in person before a final decision is taken.

Warm Regards,

Rajiv Kakria

Member, GK-I, RWA

Committee to finalise Delhi parking policy formed : Hindustan Times

Approved by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Thursday, the committee will have Anumita Roychowdhury from the Centre of Science and Environment and officials from the transport department and the Delhi Integrated Multi-modal Transit System (DIMTS) as its members.

The Delhi government has constituted a special committee to finalise Delhi’s parking policy.

The panel will be headed by Om Prakash Agarwal, an expert in urban mobility and CEO of World Resources Institute (WRI), India, and will have four other members.

“The special committee will analyse all comments received by the government on the draft parking policy for Delhi. They will prepare the final policy along with their own suggestions,” a government official said.

Approved by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Thursday, the committee will have Anumita Roychowdhury from the Centre of Science and Environment and officials from the transport department and the Delhi Integrated Multi-modal Transit System (DIMTS) as its members.

Comments were sought on the policy, made public on June 15, from the public and other stakeholders till July 31. “The transport department has received 68 comments and some of them are well-researched ideas. Among those who contributed their ideas are residents welfare associations (RWAs), the municipal corporations, a few experts and a number of individuals,” the official added.

Agarwal, who will be the chairman of this committee, had chaired the US Transport Research Board’s Committee on Transportation in Developing Countries. He was also the head of India’s Urban Transport division, during which he authored India’s National Urban Transport Policy, a document that outlines the priorities for sustainable urban transport at all levels of government.

The government’s draft parking policy aims at rationlising charges in proportion to the price of land used. It proposes to charge more for day-time parking in residential areas and for peak hours in commercial areas.

Besides, to discourage people from buying multiple cars, it says road tax would be increased on an incremental basis for those who buy more than one car.

But the RWAs have questioned the government’s rationale to charge for every car parked in residential areas. RWAs HT spoke to collectively suggested that every household be allowed free parking for at least one car.

“Why charge for parking a car in front of one’s own house? At least one car must be allowed free of cost as one buys a vehicle for own use after paying a lot of taxes,” said BS Vohra of East Delhi RWAs Joint Front.

with thanks : HINDUSTAN TIMES : LINK

Blood Donation camp by Samarpit NGO

शर्म आनी चाहिए - वो आपका कोई चहेता होता, तो आप के दिल पर क्या बीतती ?

शर्म आनी चाहिए दिल्ली वालों को, कि तरक्की की आड़ मे इतने बे गैरत हो गए कि दिल्ली के एक व्यस्तम चौराहे पर, एक आक्सिडेंट विक्टिम, 12 घंटे तक दर्द से तड़प्ता रहा और किसी को भी नज़र ना आया ? उस पर किसी की भी नज़र नही पड़ी, सिवाय उन चोर उचाक्कों के, जो सिर्फ़ उसका बॅग, उसका फोन और उसका पर्स निकाल कर भाग गए. 

वो बंदा 12 घंटे तक उस जगह पर तड़प्ता रहा, सिसकता रहा, जिधर से LG साहिब का घर सिर्फ़ मिनटों के फ़ासले पर है, जिधर से ट्राउमा सेंटर भी सिर्फ़ कुछ मिनटों की दूरी पर है. जिधर से एक बड़ा अस्पताल सिर्फ़ कुछ कदमों की दूरी पर है. जिधर से हर पल ना जाने कितने लोग गुज़रते हैं. 

किसी को भी तरस नही आया कि अगर वो खुद उसको उठा कर अस्पताल नही ले जा सकते तो एक फोन ही कर देते. यक़ीनन शर्म आनी चाहिए दिल्ली वालों को, क्योंकि ऐसा आक्सिडेंट विक्टिम तो कोई भी हो सकता है, किधर भी हो सकता है. 

कल्पना कीजिए कि वो आपका कोई चहेता होता तो आप के दिल पर क्या बीतती ?

SHOCKING : Heartless Delhi: Punish those who look away when accident victims plead for help - Hindustan Times : An accident victim lay on a Delhi road with a broken spine for 12 hours but nobody came to his rescue. Standing by and doing nothing is no less a crime. It’s perhaps time that the Good Samaritan law have punitive provisions for ‘Bad Samaritans’ : LINK

B S Vohra
pic used with thanks to HT

Delhi accident victim lies on road for 12 hours, people steal phone, Rs 12

Isn't it a #SHAME for #Delhiites #Delhi that an accident victim lies on road for 12 hours  ? Where were the authorities : Police, Traffic police, MCD, Sanitation workers ? Where was the humanity ? It may be any one, any day, anytime, anywhere. Don't you think so ?

The notorious lack of empathy of Delhiites towards accident victims was witnessed again on Wednesday as an injured man lay on the roadside for over 12 hours with nobody helping him. Worse, people stole from the helpless man.

People made away with the victim’s mobile phone, a bag containing clothes and even Rs 12 in cash that was in his pocket.

However, unlike many similar victims of public apathy, 35-year-old Narender Kumar survived the accident. He has received injuries to his neck, legs and spinal cord and is undergoing treatment at Safdurjung Hospital. Police said he will survive.

Kumar works as a driver in the native Bijnor in UP. He was returning home from Jaipur on Tuesday evening and was crossing a road near Kashmere Gate bus terminal when he was hit by an unidentified speeding car around 5pm.

“I was flung on the footpath because of the hit by the car. Unable to move because of the injuries, I lay on the roadside through the night,” Kumar said.

Many people approached him on seeing him lying injured, but no one cared to help. “Instead, people stole his mobile phone and bag which were lying on the roadside. Someone even stole Rs 12 cash from his pocket,” alleged Kumar’s brother, Rajkumar.

Police said a passerby finally made a call to the police control room on Wednesday morning after which a PCR van was sent to the spot.

He was first moved to Sushruta Trauma Centre before being referred to Safdurjung Hospital.

Police have registered a case of rash and negligent driving and of causing hurt and were contemplating adding sections pertaining to theft in the case. Neither the car, nor the suspected thieves who stole from Kumar have been identified.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

Vande Maatram - India TV Conclave

Very hectic schedule this week, with an AAJTAK show, India TV Conclave - Vande Maatram and the Independence day celebrations. The great moments captured in memory will remain there for a longer duration. Had the chance to meet and listen certain great personalities of India, that included, Finance minister, Home minister, Gen JJ Singh, Baba Ramdev, Kumar vishwas, and many others.

The most interesting part was a very serious talk show between Sambit Patra, Shabnam Lone & Abhijit - famous singer, on the Kashmir issue. The hot and burning discussion showed the strongest face of BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra on the one side and the pro hurriat face of Shabnam Lone, a Supreme Court Lawyer, on the other. But the talk show took many interesting n curvey turns, with Abhijit in his melodious voice supporting Sambit Patra. 

Another interesting news was the announcement of birth of Baby girl NEHA, by his father Babul Supriyo, famous singer as well the State Minister in the BJP Govt. He said that this birth took place 18 years after the birth of his first daughter, Sharmila. He sang two songs for both of his daughters.

Celebrating Independence Day 2017

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY : B S VOHRA

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY : B S VOHRA
www.RWABhagidari.com      www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.in

Happy Independence Day !

Dear Vohra ji,

What an yeoman and selfless service to the residents of East Delhi! It is highly acclaimed and greatly appreciated!! May God bless you and your family for a long, healthy and useful life forever and ever!!!

In the wake of our 70th Independence Day we convey our greetings and best wishes to all our affiliates and subscribers and helpers in your noble mission!!!

With deep regards and best wishes,

TK Balu/Anand Vihar

Jai Ho - AAJTAK

DERC's view point on the issues raised by us ?

Secy DERC,

Viniyamak Bhawan, 

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

We had attended the Public hearing held on 19^th July and had raised our issues in that.

Though we have started getting replies from DISCOMs, we are still awaiting YOUR VIEW POINT on the issues raised by us. We want to understand that how seriously you take our issues as well how you OPINE on our issues.

We are sure you will revert over the issues raised by us, at the earliest possible.

Thanks & with best regards,

B S Vohra

President,

East Delhi RWAs Joint Front - Federation

www.RWABhagidari.com

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.in