For Rajputana Rifles soldiers crossing dirty drain, Bailey bridge could be timegap answer
New Delhi:
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.
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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.
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