For Rajputana Rifles soldiers crossing dirty drain, Bailey bridge could be timegap answer
Delhi High Court
on Wednesday asked authorities to furnish the final plan on the construction of a foot overbridge (FOB) for Rajputana Rifles soldiers who had to cross a putrid drain to reach the training and parade ground at Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, located in Delhi Cantt.
A bench of justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet PS Arora was reviewing progress in a case it took suo motu cognizance on the basis of a news report that said soldiers had to face a "smelly trail" from their barracks to the ground.
The court asked Public Works Department (PWD), traffic police and Delhi Cantonment Board to conduct a joint meeting to finalise the construction of the FOB, seeking a report on its design, budget and timeline.
HC pointed out that despite having been approved earlier, the structure was yet to be constructed.
Meanwhile, a joint survey by Delhi Traffic Police (DTP) and Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), whose findings were presented in HC, ruled out the installation of a pedestrian signal on Ring Road near the training yard, deeming it "unfeasible." Instead, it recommended constructing a Bailey bridge as a temporary solution till a permanent FOB can be constructed at the site.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
The survey was held following a May 30 hearing in HC, during which PWD proposed a traffic signal as an interim measure.
"Based on the findings, the installation of a pedestrian signal at the location is not advisable. This stretch of Ring Road is a high-speed, signal-free corridor with a horizontal curve. Bringing foot traffic onto it would lead to congestion and pose grave safety risks. Further, as a temporary solution, a Bailey bridge is recommended in the report," said DCP Traffic (New Delhi) Rajeev Kumar.
The report said at least 1,500 soldiers use the informal pathway on an average daily, with a peak flow of 400-500 at any instant during the morning, afternoon and evening hours. It pointed out that the proposed interim arrangement, in the form of a grade crossing facility with a pedestrian signal, would entail huge congestion on Ring Road in both directions of travel. The entire stretch is signal-free with flyovers, and the sudden introduction of an at-grade crossing facility, especially on the horizontal curve of the road, would have serious safety implications, it added.
"Until a permanent FOB is constructed, a temporary arrangement in the form of a Bailey bridge crossing can be constructed as a stopgap safer arrangement by availing the services of the concerned unit of our Army… Such a facility was created by our Army within a week during the Commonwealth Games 2010 as a contingency measure," the report stated.
Aditya Tanwar, president of Rashtrawadi Yuva Sangh Delhi, said, "We first raised the issue after observing this on our route.
We then involved CRRI and tried to fix it, but nothing happened. Finally, the court hearings started in May. Hopefully, a resolution will be brought."
According to CRRI scientist S Velumurgan, "It has been on CRRI's notice since Nov last year. Considering the prevailing conditions at the site and inadequate facilities for the soldiers, an FOB is fully justified. We have been advocating it for a long time now. The alternative, which is the at-grade pedestrian signal crossing, was ruled out due to unsafe environs for the soldiers as well as a possible pile-up of Ring Road traffic.
"
HC had last month also asked PWD if the culvert can be cleaned and some landscaping done there.
"The soldiers are required to pass through this culvert four times a day. The drain is stated to be flooded and is slick with sludge and sometimes near waist-deep in places," it noted, terming it an "unacceptable situation".
HC's intervention came while dealing with a batch of petitions where it is monitoring steps being taken to prevent a repeat of what the capital saw during monsoon last year — flooding of roads, homes and lawyers' offices due to clogged stormwater and sewage drains.
The special bench has been issuing directions from time to time for cleaning of drains in Delhi and removal of encroachments that block smooth flow of stormwater to the Yamuna. HC has also pushed Delhi Jal Board to improve functioning of sewage treatment plants (STPs). It has ordered installation of flow meters at discharge points in all 37 STPs to prevent dirty water being released into the river.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
High court upholds 6-month jail term in cheque bounce case
Chennai: Noting that a borrower cannot evade repayment merely on the ground that the loan amount was unaccounted for in the lender's income tax returns, Madras high court upheld the conviction of a man in a cheque bounce case. Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan dismissed a revision petition filed by E Dhatchinamoorthy, who challenged his conviction under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The prosecution said, Dhatchinamoorthy borrowed 3 lakh from complainant S Seenuvasan and issued a cheque towards repayment. The cheque was returned dishonoured for 'funds insufficient'. Despite a statutory notice, he failed to repay. The Tindivanam judicial magistrate sentenced him to six months of simple imprisonment and directed him to pay compensation equal to the cheque amount. The conviction was later confirmed by the II additional district judge, Tindivanam, in appeal. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Gold Rates Today in Chennai | Silver Rates Today in Chennai Before the HC, the petitioner argued that the loan was not accounted for in the complainant's tax returns and hence could not be considered a legally enforceable debt. He also questioned the admissibility of a photocopy of the cheque marked before the trial court. The court noted that the borrower admitted to taking the money and issuing the cheque. "Whether the loan amount is accounted or not is not the concern of the borrower. Once the money is borrowed, it has to be repaid," Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan said. Holding that both the trial and appellate courts rightly convicted him, the HC said the conviction 'does not require any interference' and dismissed the revision. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- The Hindu
High Court orders Andhra Pradesh Government to strictly adhere to IRC guidelines related to speed-breakers
The Andhra Pradesh High Court (HC) directed the State of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.), represented by Chief Secretary, A.P. Road Development Corporation (A.P.-RDC), Municipal Administration and PR & RD Departments and the Director General of Police, to strictly adhere to the guidelines laid down by the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Indian Road Congress (IRC) on the construction of speed-breakers. Judiciary a strong pillar of democracy, says Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice The judges ordered the respondents to ensure that the existing speed-breakers are brought in conformity to the latest guidelines and new speed-breakers are also constructed accordingly. They were hearing a PIL filed by advocate Thandava Yogesh, who argued that the guidelines prescribed by the IRC for constructing speed-breakers are not being followed, moreover, there are a large number of illegal speed-breakers. As per the extant specifications, the speed-breakers should be of 3.70 metres width and 10 centimetres height with bumps of 17 centimeter radius. Four sworn-in permanent judges of Andhra Pradesh High Court He contended that no action has been taken even after the Chief Engineer (R&B - State Highways) & Managing Director of APRDC filed a memo in February apprising the court that all the Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and others were instructed to identify and remove the illegal speed-breakers on all State Highways, major district roads and other district roads and to remove the defective speed-breakers or rectify them to the IRC standards. Mr. Yogesh had also appealed to the court to order that the speed-breakers should be built with white and yellow reflective paint to enhance visibility, especially at night, and that signage boards be put up 40 metres ahead (of the speed-breakers) for the sake of safety. Justice Battu Devanand takes oath as Andhra Pradesh High Court Judge The petitioner noted that numerous studies revealed that speed-breakers not only cause accidents but also lead to serious damages such as compression of the spinal cord and vertebrae, disk-prolapse, neck pain, slip-disk, spine injuries and back pain if they are not constructed scientifically. Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Ravi Cheemalapati noted on their order that the special government pleader S. Pranathi submitted to the court that there have been some changes in the relevant IRC guidelines and the same would be placed on record.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Delhi HC asks Centre to respond if X Corp ought to be part of Sahyog portal
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to respond to its query on whether social media platform X Corp . ought to be unexceptionally part of the Sahyog portal in cases involving human trafficking , child trafficking and national security-related issues. The court has asked the Centre to file its reply by September 10, addressing specifically this issue as well as a plea moved by X Corp., formerly known as Twitter, seeking discharge from the proceedings of a case and placing its opposition to come on board the Sahyog portal, which is managed by the home ministry's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (IC4). "Let the Union of India file its reply to the present application, addressing the specific issue i.e. as to whether in cases involving human trafficking, child trafficking and serious matters such as drug trafficking and national security-related issues are concerned, the applicant X Corp. ought to be unexceptionally part of the SAHYOG portal. Let the reply be filed by September 10, 2025," a bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma has said. The high court, in its August 12 order, took note of the challenge by X Corp. to the entire concept of the Sahyog portal and that its coming on board the portal is pending before the Karnataka High Court. However, the judgment is stated to be reserved. Sahyog, the government says, was developed to automate the process of sending notices to intermediaries by the appropriate government or its agency under the IT Act to facilitate the removal or disabling of access to any information, data or communication link being used to commit an unlawful act. The portal aims to bring together all authorised agencies and intermediaries on one platform to ensure immediate action against unlawful online information. The court was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by a woman seeking directions to authorities to produce her 19-year-old son who has been missing since January 10, 2024. While dealing with several habeas corpus petitions, the court noticed that there was a "lag" between the seeking of information by police and the receipt of the same from various social media platforms. The court made it clear that the application of X Corp. arises in a habeas corpus petition, where there is a missing child, and the cooperation to be tendered by intermediaries and their participation in the SAHYOG portal is being considered from that perspective. X Corp. has sought its discharge from the present proceedings, citing its cooperation, and said its petition against the Sahyog portal is pending in the Karnataka High Court, which has reserved the judgment. The court observed that there was no impediment in hearing X Corp. as the Karnataka High Court has not passed any such order. The Centre's counsel had said while X Corp. moved the Karnataka High Court, 64 intermediaries had come aboard the Sahyog portal and the home ministry's IC4 had sent requests to others to follow suit. The counsel had urged the court to direct the remaining intermediaries to join the portal expeditiously. In a status report filed in the matter, the Centre had also said that more than 1,100 entities, including internet service providers, Facebook, WhatsApp and Microsoft, have joined the "API integrated system" for instantaneously sharing data. It had added that the system was at the testing and production stage and all states and Union territories had appointed nodal officers for the Sahyog portal. The report had said 33 "Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers" had also joined the portal.
