HC orders audit of Gurgaon's road network

Apr 21, 2015, 02.06AM IST TNN[ Praveen Jose ]

GURGAON: The Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered the state government to conduct a technical audit of Gurgaon's 200km road network to examine if it conforms to the Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP) of the district drawn up in 2010.

The high court had on its own appointed road safety expert Navdeep Asija in October 2014 to study public works under way in Gurgaon, and ordered the audit on the basis of the report he submitted this January.

One of the main objections Asija has raised in the report is about the new 16-lane high-speed road that is being built to connect HUDA sectors to the expressway. He says the new road -an upgrade of Golf Course Road and other roads that link with it - will trigger major traffic jams. The reason he gives is that it would take cars from an eight-lane road (the width of one carriageway on the new road) to a four-lane one (the width of a carriageway of the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway).

The report suggests that the court stay construction of the new 16-lane road as an interim measure to prevent irreparable damage to the city like the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway has.

Asija's report, in fact, suggests initiating criminal proceedings against the planners of the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway. It gives the example of about 300 deaths the expressway witnessed in 2014 alone to point to technical drawbacks in the design and concept of the 28km speedway. Asija cites the recent decision to build underpasses and flyovers on the expressway at an estimated cost of Rs 760 crore - information that the MCG gave the court in a separate affidavit - as a confirmation of the design flaws of the project.

"It seems that intentionally or unintentionally, at the time of construction in 2007-08, necessary infrastructure to ensure safety of pedestrians and cyclists was not built... This further investment of Rs 760 crore from public money within six years of the opening of this expressway is confirmation of the failure of the expressway project," his report notes.

The amicus curiae, after a scrutiny of Asija's report and affidavits filed in this regard by HUDA and MCG, told the court, "The court may order initiation of criminal proceedings against the officers concerned and authorities, including the concessionaire and National Highways Authority of India, for killing many innocent cyclists and pedestrians because of bad planning and execution of the project, apart from wasting public money at large."

When this correspondent contacted Asija on Monday, he said, "As per a report by the ministry of road transport and highways, the three intersections considered for improvement (IFFCO Chowk, Signature Tower and Rajiv Chowk) are the major accident black spots. In just one year, this expressway witnessed about 300 fatal deaths, mainly of pedestrians and cyclists. Most highways are planned to take on traffic for another 20 years, but this highway failed within six years of its operation."

"We have written to the chief engineer to engage an agency to carry out an audit of HUDA roads, including those that are proposed," the official said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/hc-orders-audit-of-gurgaons-road-network/articleshow/46994173.cms

Connect Karo Awards 2015 - Ecocabs

Apr 16 2015 : The Times of India (Delhi)

Best employee-based active transport initiative | NAGARRO SOFTWARE PVT LTD

Nagarro, a software development company, set up three cycle stations for its employees in November to encourage them to cycle between its three buildings located within a radius of 3km in Sector 18, Gurgaon.The project, called Nagarro Cycle Station, was the first corporate cycle-sharing programme in DelhiNCR. Within six months, cycle use by its staff has increased by approximately 30%.

Promising Active Transport Social Entrepreneur | GRADUATES WELFARE ASSOCIATION FAZILKA & PATIALA FOUNDATION

The foundation works for improving urban mobility in Punjab using cycle rickshaws as paratransit or public transport to take the load off conventional mass transit systems. It supports 5 lakh cycle rickshaw pullers in Haryana and Punjab and has pushed for India's first non-motorized transport (NMT) Act. It has also played a role in the creation of NMT inclusive urban mobility plans for more than 200 cities.

Public Active Transport Initiative | CENTRE FOR GREEN MOBILITY AND PWD, DIU

Diu Bicycle Network Planning & Infrastructure Design is a project for creating 26km of cycle-friendly streets that connect to all the major or minor locations in Diu. It provides a safe right of way to cyclists and aims to turn Diu into India's `cycling destination'. The project has sensitized government officials to the importance of non-motorized transport.So far, 4.3km of cycle tracks with signage and parking have been started.

Promising Active Transport Social Entrepreneur | THE ATLANTA FOUNDATION

TAF has been promoting cycling in India for about six years. It helps people get cycles through its Cycle Stations and organizes cycling events called Pelotons in different cities. To ensure enthusiasts continue cycling for the long term, it provides free and regular maintenance at its Cycle Clinics. It claims that it got about 25,000 people to participate in just one year.

Another National Award to GWAF for Promoting Cycle Rickshaw

"Connect Karo Award for the year 2015" by EMBARQ India and WRI India for Promising Active Transport Social Entrepreneur in the Country Jointly to Ecocabs-India and Patiala Greencabs for the Promotion of Cycle Rickshaw in Punjab. Award by Dr Sudhir Krishna, Former Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, GoI and Actor/Director & Environmentalist Milind Soman‪ #‎CK2015‬

 

#punjabiwisdom

ਕਦੇ ਕੋਕੋ ਮੇਰੀ ਚੀਜੀ ਲੈ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਤੇ ਕਦੇ ਸਾਡੇ ਤੋ ਗਲਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਕੀੜੀ ਦਾ ਆਟਾ ਡੁੱਲ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਤੇ ਬਾਕੀ ਮਾਣੋ - ਬਿੱਲੀ ਨੇ ਵੇ ਬਚਪਨ ਵਿਚ ਬੜਾ ਖ਼ਿਆਲ ਰਖਿਆ | ਮਾਪਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਇਹ ਤਿੰਨੋ ਪਾਤਰਾ ਨੇ ਬਚਪਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਈ ਔਕੜਾ ਬੜੇ ਪਿਆਰ ਨਾਲ ਇੰਸਾਨੀਅਤ ਦਾ ਪਾਠ ਨਾਲ ਪੜ੍ਹਾ ਕੇ ਦੂਰ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ ਸਨ |

- ਨਵਦੀਪ

Demolition of Ram Palace in Fazilka : HC directs for maintenance of status quo

Virender Kataria, former Member of Rajya Sabha and former Governor of Pondicherry, challenges demolition

Chandigarh,April 9, 2015 : Punjab and Haryana High court has directed the Local Govt Authorities for maintenance of status quo regarding the demolition of community hall (Ram Palance) in Fazilka. In a PIL filed by Virender Kataria, former Member of Rajya Sabha and former Governor of Pondicherry, seeking the issuance of appropriate directions to the Local Government Department and Municipal Council, Fazilka, against demolition of existing community hall (Ram Palace) situated opposite District Administrative Complex at Fazilka, a Division Bench of HC comprising justice S.K. Mittal and H.S. Sidhu today issued notice of motion to the respondents for 14.5.2015 in the PIL and also directed the respondents to maintain status quo regarding the position of demolition of the said community hall till the next date of hearing. In the aforesaid PIL, the petitioner has stated that the aforesaid community hall at Fazilka was constructed in the year 1997 by utilizing the grant of Rs. 60 lakhs released by him from his MP LAD fund AS A Member of Rajya Sabha. Presently, the market value of community hall is approximately Rs. 5 crore . The community hall serves the needs of poor and common people for solemnization of various religious and social functions, including marriages and also for conducting seminars, workshops, blood donation camps, etc. at very affordable rates, as compared to marriage palaces in the city. The grievance of the petitioner ,as expressed through his Counsel before the Division Bench of HC was that the Municipal Council, Fazilka passed a resolution on 12.9.2014 for shifting the Bus Stand, which was located in the crowded area in the city, to outside city on Fazilka-Abohar Road by demolishing community hall located at the said site. The Counsel argued that there is a school namely Guru Nanak Sikh Pathshala in the vicinity of community hall under reference, and the said school has encroached upon approximately one acre municipal land. He also brought to the notice of HC that a Committee of officials headed by Special Secretary to Chief Minister and which also included the Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab had visited Fazilka on 27.3.2015, and after discussions with the President of the Municipal Council and other staff submitted its recommendations on 1.4.2015 to the effect that the new Bus Stand may be constructed without demolishing the functional community hall and that the Municipal Council, Fazilka should get the encroached land from Guru Nanak Sikh Pathshala recovered. However, the Municipal Council, Fazilka in a hot haste manner initiated the process of demolishing of the community hall building on 3.4.2015, which was apparent from photograph attached with the PIL. The Counsel apprehended that further process of demolition of community hall may take place during the coming vacation. Hes, therefore, he prayed for staying the process of demolition of community hall. The Counsel further submitted that the poor and common persons can get the community hall booked for marriages at affordable rent of Rs. 5,000/- approximately, whereas solemnization of such marriage in a marriage palace costs around Rs. 50,000/-. Thus, the poor and common people will suffer irreparable loss in case this community hall is demolished.

http://www.babushahi.com/printnews.php?id=45867&type=news