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Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
35% of Delhi vehicles speed on roads: Study
New Delhi A vehicle involved in road crash due to speeding. (Representative photo/HT Archive) Over a third of vehicles on Delhi roads were found motoring above prescribed speed limits, with heavy and commercial vehicles accounting for the most offences, according to a study on 600,000 roadside observations collated between December 2021 and April 2025. The report, jointly released by the Delhi government and global public health organisation Vital Strategies, is based on observations under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), officials from the transport department said. The findings state that speeding prevalence in the Capital jumped from 27% in December 2021 to 35% in April 2025. 'An increase of just 1km/hr in average vehicle speed can lead to a 3% rise in injury-causing crashes and up to 5% more fatal crashes,' the report reads, citing World Health Organization (WHO) research. According to the study, nearly 49% of heavy vehicles, such as buses and trucks, were found driving over limits. Speeding prevalence was 42% among commercial vehicles, including taxis vans and rickshaws. At traffic blackspots—vulnerable points, where most accidents occur—there was 50% speeding prevalence. In contrast, 28% of private vehicles studied were found speeding. The mean speed at blackspots was 58km/hr, significantly higher than the 43km/hr average among vehicles complying with limits. On expressways, 43% of vehicles were found overspeeding, followed by 41% on arterial roads. The report, in a section on motorcycle trends, found that two-wheelers were disproportionately involved in fatal crashes worldwide. In Delhi, motorcycles were more likely to breach speed limits during late-night hours. The report found that 47% of motorcycles were found speeding at night, compared to 33% in the day. The mean speed of a speeding motorcycle was 66km/hr, and at blackspots, this jumped to 68km/hr. Motorcycles, at 33%, accounted for the highest number of speeding vehicles on arterial roads, while it was 28% on local roads and 18% on expressways. There were more speeding instances on weekends, against weekdays, among two-wheelers, it found. The study tracked five blackspots identified by the Delhi Transport Department and road safety experts. Across these, nearly half or 48% of vehicles observed during weekends were speeding, compared with 45% on weekdays. 'Heavy vehicles have the highest rate at blackspots with 58% found speeding, underscoring the risk they pose in already hazardous zones. Speeding was most common during late night and early morning hours, when enforcement presence is thinner, which peaked in April 2024,' the report read. Suggested remedies The report recommends a multipronged approach, involving enforcement, engineering and education to tackle the issue. For the Delhi Traffic Police, it suggests expanding electronic and roadside enforcement across all road types, particularly targeting heavy and commercial vehicles. It calls for reforms to the e-challan system to ensure on-the-spot fines and follow-up, and for steeper penalties, including licence suspension and vehicle impoundment for repeat offenders. The Delhi transport department has been urged to enforce stricter commercial vehicle inspections, push for mandatory anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on all motorcycles and coordinate mass media campaigns on the dangers of speeding. For roadowning agencies, such as the Public Works Department (PWD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the recommendations include regular road safety audits, structural improvements at blackspots and speed-calming measures. 'Audit and inspect the existing road network and ensure that new infrastructure complies with safety standards. Implement speed-calming infrastructure, such as well-placed speed limit signage, speed humps, raised pedestrian crossings, rumble strips, road narrowing, and chicanes. Incorporate a safe systems approach with interagency collaboration to enhance enforcement and road infrastructure maintenance,' the report read. While the report notes a 10% drop in road fatalities in Delhi since 2015, the city still lost 1,457 lives in crashes in 2023. Vulnerable road users, which included 38% motorcyclists, 43% pedestrians and 2% cyclists, accounted for 83% of speeding deaths. Officials said the findings will be used to identify high-risk corridors and schedule targeted enforcement drives, especially on weekends and late nights. Public awareness efforts are also likely to intensify, with messaging tailored for commercial drivers and motorcyclists.
Hindustan Times
04-08-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Meghnad Desai: The view from classroom
Noted economist and Labour peer Meghnad Desai passed away recently. Few individuals command such universal recognition — his impact transcended not just borders but boundaries of language, discipline, and realm of thought. Meghnad Desai left an indelible mark on all of his students. His last message to one of us was: 'Keep reading widely and hang on to some of your ideas but you will have a lot more to learn than you realise'. (HT Archive) For both of us, he embodied the ideal of the great teacher. We were from the first batch of Meghnad Desai Academy of Economics. Desai, in one of his lectures, quoted Keynes's description of a master economist: 'A master economist…must understand symbols and speak in words. He must contemplate the particular, in terms of the general, and touch abstract and concrete in the same flight of thought.' Desai's style of teaching changed the way we engaged with ideas and understood the world. We were in the international political economy course he taught. Through this class, I (Patel) became fascinated by the effects of the Industrial Revolution on weavers in India and wrote a short paper exploring how the Lancashire model and its replication in Britain impacted these communities. I approached him at his office. He immediately invited me to sit; enjoying his pizza and coke, he read through my work and, almost offhandedly, began discussing the various arguments that scholars have debated around this topic. What he considered a casual ramble could easily have passed for the literature review section of a scholarly paper on industrialisation in India. During one of his lectures where he was working out a proof (perhaps of the Hecksher-Ohlin model), I (Misra) had asked him a question related to the math on the board but not directly to the topic. Without missing a beat, he adapted the equations to tackle the query, but after a brief pause, admitted with a twinkle in his eye that he had momentarily lost his way. With characteristic wit, he referenced his age, joking that he would revisit the question the following day. Later, when I dropped by his office to discuss another doubt, I found him completely absorbed, meticulously working through lines of equations — determined to pinpoint exactly which sign or step had eluded him earlier. Before him, along with his notebook, was an open box of pizza and a can of Coke, leftovers from a working lunch that he had put aside in his pursuit of clarity. We recall many water-cooler conversations with peers marvelling at how he didn't need to be this way — but perhaps he simply couldn't help it. That was the only way he knew. He cared deeply for knowledge, for his students, and for their learning. He remained committed to that ideal. In the midst of all this, he was very alive to humour, too. He once made a joke about the oddity of naming an institute after someone still alive — which had the entire hall erupting in laughter. His passion rubbed off on us in many ways. When I (Misra) reached out to him for advice on doctoral studies — confessing a preference for 'real-world problems' over purely theoretical work — he shared a perspective that fundamentally shifted my outlook: 'You know, Prakhar, the biggest advantage of theory is that theory saves time. Imagine being able to work out what the outcome of a policy will be before actually implementing it!' After that, theory no longer felt like an abstract exercise detached from reality. Desai left an indelible mark on us. His last message to one of us was: 'Keep reading widely and hang on to some of your ideas but you will have a lot more to learn than you realise'. Young minds need that kind of energy — that pushes you forward but also slows you down just enough to learn, reflect and grow. It is far beyond our abilities to discuss his contributions to academia and literature or to comment on the large body of knowledge he has left behind. What we can say is that he did fit very well this verse: 'Jis jaanib bhi mitti uda doon, naye aaftaab paida ho jaaye. Filhaal bachchon mein hoon, sabun ke gubbaare banata hoon'. (Wherever I fling dust, new suns rise. When I'm with children, I shape bubbles). Prakhar Misra is at Johns Hopkins University and Ayush Patel is with L74 Craft Ciders. The views expressed are personal.
Hindustan Times
26-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Khan Market traders told to standardise all signboards
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has ordered the traders in Khan Market to standardise signages and facade in the market within two months, after which the corporation will remove non-complying signages from outside the shops. The move, officials said, is aimed at improving civic aesthetics in the high-end market of Lutyens' Delhi. The document also regulates the installation of air-conditioning units, false facades, and drainage elements. (HT Archive) Khan Market traders' association, however, said the timeline of two months is not feasible during monsoons and more time should be provided. The association has also asked for a detailed presentation by the agency on the type of signboards that need to be installed. According to the order dated July 15, a signage shall be allowed full width of the storefront if desired by the owner. 'However, as per the Delhi Outdoor Advertising Policy, 2017 — framed under directions from the Supreme Court and finalised by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority — any signage exceeding 2.5 square metre will be subject to additional charges,' the order added. The standard signboard size is 450mm in height and 900mm in length, backed by a pre-coated grey metal sheet. Retractable structures over windows are allowed, with a maximum projection of 1,000mm, while permanent ones are not permitted. The document also regulates the installation of air-conditioning units, false facades, and drainage elements while mandating that ground floor AC units must not project more than 750mm from the wall surface. False facades are permitted to extend up to 200mm from the original wall. All hanging wires will be removed, and water tanks placed on terraces will be screened from public view . Sanjiv Mehra, who heads the Khan Market Traders' Association said the colour coding is not a part of the rules and the regulations talk about board size, awnings and other features. 'We had sought a presentation on the changes this week but it was postponed. The market comprises shops and traders from various demographics. NDMC officials will hold a presentation with all traders so that there is clarity. ..One thing is clear, it can not be done in two months. It will involve electrical wiring and changing of electrical boards; it can not be done during monsoon,' he added.
Hindustan Times
26-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Contractor found using subpar steel in Chilla elevated road: Noida authority
The contractor building the Chilla Elevated Road, a key link between Mayur Vihar in Delhi and the Mahamaya Flyover on the Noida Expressway, is using substandard steel for the pillars, the Noida authority said on Friday. The authority expressed strong dissatisfaction with the contractor and issued a notice for violating approved construction norms. The construction site of the Chilla elevated road in Noida in March 2025. (HT Archive) The discovery was made during a site inspection on Friday by Noida authority's chief executive officer Lokesh M, who was accompanied by officer on special duty Mahendra Prasad, general manager AK Arora, SP Singh, and other officials. The inspection revealed that the UP Bridge Corporation (UPBC), responsible for building the elevated road, was using steel that did not meet the authority's standards. 'We found that UPBCL is using substandard steel in the construction against the approved norms. We have strictly directed the agency to use the steel approved by the authority. We have also issued a notice to UPBCL seeking their reply against this anomaly,' said Lokesh M. The CEO also instructed the civil department to impose a penalty on the agency for project delays and for failing to complete work on time. Despite seeking more time, the agency has made unsatisfactory progress on the ground, officials said. The 5.6km Chilla Elevated Road project was launched in March 2025 to reduce daily congestion on the Delhi-Noida Link Road. The ₹893 crore project is expected to be completed in three years and will offer direct connectivity between Mayur Vihar and Greater Noida, Noida Sector 37, Kalindi Kunj, and Faridabad, among other locations. The road aims to ease chronic traffic bottlenecks between Noida Sector 14A and the Mahamaya Flyover, offering relief to thousands of commuters during peak hours. The project was first conceptualised in 2012, but faced delays due to funding issues from the Public Works Department (PWD), realignment around a GAIL gas pipeline, and Covid-19-related disruptions. After Delhi government approval in 2018, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath laid the foundation stone in January 2019. In addition to this project, the CEO also reviewed the golf course in Sector 151A, a new building in Sector 96, the approach road for a new bridge across the Hindon between Sectors 145 and 146, the nearly finished Bhangel elevated road, and roads in Sector 18, officials said. He also directed the water works department to involve IIT Delhi in a detailed city survey to find solutions for recurring waterlogging, which causes trouble for residents during rains, according to officials.
Hindustan Times
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Review: Broken Nest and Other Stories by Rabindranath Tagore
Madhabi Mukherjee in and as Charulata. The film directed by Satyajit Ray was based on Broken Nest by Rabindranath Tagore. (HT Archive) Broken Nest and Other Stories is a collection of three short stories and a novella by Rabindranath Tagore. Capturing the lyricism of the Nobel Laureate's prose, poet and writer Sharmistha Mohanty translated the stories, The Ghat's Tale, Notebook and Postmaster, and the novella, Broken Nest, from the Bengali, and Westland has presented the works in a volume with an exquisite red and white cover. 'For me the light of day and the shadows of night are cast daily upon the Ganga, and are every day wiped away- they never leave an impression. So, even though I look old, my heart is forever young. The algae of years of memories has not covered me so as to keep out the rays of the sun. Sometimes, by chance an algae floats in and clings to my sides, then it is once again carried away by the waves. But I cannot say there is nothing that has stayed. Where the waves of the Ganga do not reach, there, in my crevices, have sprung up creepers and weeds and moss; they are witnesses to my past, it is they who have held the past in their loving embrace and kept it forever green and tender, forever new. The Ganga recedes from me every day, step by step, and I too, step by step, grow older', narrates the ghat in The Ghat's Tale. 152pp, ₹299; Westland I hold on to each sentence as I feel my heart swell at the recreation of the beauty of the Bengal ghat. The rhythm of Tagore's prose takes me to the landscapes I know well – that of Bihar, where too life springs around the banks of water bodies, the ghats. The rituals of birth, everyday life, marriage, and death conclude there. Through it all, the ghat becomes a witness, wise in years. The Ghat's Tale is the story of a child bride who once played there and has now returned to the ghat of her childhood as a young widow. Speaking of the girl's displacement when she had to leave her home for her husband's, the ghat states, 'Someone had taken away the lotus from the water to plant it on land.' Tagore wrote about women being abandoned by love, by their families, and by society. He wrote about abhagini women, those who were abandoned by fate. One such story is that of Charulata in Broken Nest, which inspired Satyajit Ray's famous eponymous film. Through Charulata's experiences, Tagore wrote about the loneliness of married women. When Charu's husband's cousin, Amal, comes to live with them, she is initially annoyed by his demands. Yet, for the first time, she feels like someone needs her and she can't help being attracted to him. Tagore is possibly at his best in this story; what is left unsaid leaps out at the reader. Through shared moments in which they write and talk, Charu and Amal experience a togetherness that is lacking in her marriage. Small acts of companionship fill her life, and she finds herself looking forward to encounters with Amal. For the first time, she experiences jealousy as she fights with another woman, Mandakini (who is married to another man), for Amal. Tagore's minor characters, such as the married Manda, who too is charmed by the attention Amal pays her, further develop the theme of the isolation of married women in Broken Nest. Charulata's husband Bhupati is not particularly interested in literature. However, he pays his respects as a patron. 'Firstly, I don't read, over and above that if I don't even buy books I will be committing a sin which I will never be able to atone for,' he says. Touched by sorrow, he turns to poetry for the first time in his life. He wants to work on his writing so he can be a writing companion to Charu and help her write more. After Amal leaves, Bhupati senses her sadness though he cannot understand why she is sad. In an attempt to comfort her, he decides to translate Tennyson's poetry into Bengali and read it out to her. In Postmaster, a young orphan girl, Ratan, comes to care deeply for her employer, the postmaster. He arrives in the village of Ulapur for work but decides to return to Calcutta. Ratan asks him to take her with him but he laughs it off as impossible. However, once on the boat to Calcutta, he begins to regret his decision. 'When he got on the boat and the boat has set sail, and the rain swollen river appeared to be brimming on all sides like the earth's gathered tears, then the postmaster felt a great ache in his heart- the picture of an insignificant little village girl's sad face seemed to express an enormous, world encompassing, unarticulated pain. Suddenly he felt a strong desire. 'Let me go back, let me take that world abandoned orphan with me'- but the sails had caught the wind, the monsoon current was flowing swiftly, the village had been left behind and the cremation ghats could be seen on the river banks- and in the wistful heart of the traveller being borne away on the river there arose this philosophy, there are so many separations in life, so many deaths, what is the point of returning? Who belongs to whom in this world?' Rabindranath Tagore (HT Archive) But no philosophy arose in Ratan's mind. She only kept circling the building of the post office with tears in her eyes. Perhaps there was a faint hope entering her heart, maybe Dadababu will come back- caught in that hope she could not go far away from here.' The postmaster moves away from Ratan, abandoning her. Once again, water, an element important in the landscape of Bengal, plays a great role in the story. It forever separates Ratan and the postmaster. Her helplessness becomes acute as she is physically unable to move away due to delusion and hope. In the preface, translator Sharmistha Mohanty writes about women written by Tagore: 'These are women of unbearable dignity, forced into a suffering to which they are almost always equal, and the only travelling they do is towards an acceptance of stasis within which they must live.' Compassionate and meditative, Broken Nest and Other Stories exemplifies Tagore at his finest. As always, in prose rich with lyricism, the great polymath explores the depth of the human experience. Sharmistha Jha is an independent writer and editor.
