[sustran] Re: Pedestrian deaths in Delhi - mind blowing numbers!!

[Sujit Patwardhan]

2 March 2012



Why should one be surprised that 1000 pedestrians are killed each year in
Delhi?

-- If you consider that Delhi has more cars than Mumbai, Calcutta and
Madras put together
-- If you consider that Delhi continues to build flyover after flyover and
wide roads to ensure cars don't have to slow down in traffic
-- If you consider that the Traffic Police in Delhi (as in all other
cities) seem to only think about "moving vehicles" and see pedestrians more
as impediments
-- If you consider that Delhi more than the other metro cities has more
"big shots with heavy clout" than common citizens and now with the market
oriented policies the individual matters even less....
-- With the obscene amount of money spent on the Metro Rail the decision
makers feel they've done more than enough for "public transport" so nothing
wrong in continuing to pamper the car users. (haven't we heard people say
"OK we need more buses and more trains but also more cars!!!")

Sadly this is the reality and even though it's like sitting on a time-bomb,
our "leaders" appear to be more concerned in tracking down and silencing
the voice of dissent than doing something simple like making the life of
the majority of road users (those who walk, cycle and use public
transport) safer and more dignified.

--
Sujit





On Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 2:37 AM, Ranjit Gadgil <ranjit.gadgil.1 at gmail.com>wrote:

> Can this be true?
>
> Close to a 1000 pedestrians killed every year in Delhi. OMG!!
>
> And if it is so bloody obvious that no one likes to use over bridges and
> that spending crores on them has not helped a bit (and in fact may have
> made things worse) how come no one is putting a stop to this nonsense and
> insisting on just plain regular at-grade crossings, where vehicles - I know
> this may sound radical - stop!
>
>
> http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Pedestrians-not-welcome-on-roads/Article1-816101.aspx
>
> "Despite civic agencies investing crores of rupees every year on subways
> and overbridges, Delhi’s roads continue to be a death trap for pedestrians.
> Every year, close to a thousand people are run over by speeding vehicles
> while walking on or crossing a busy street. According to a PWD survey,  a
> large number of people prefer crossing the road on the surface rather than
> walking a extra paces to use a pedestrian bridge."
>
> -- Ranjit
>



-- 
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*It's no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.
*

- J. Krishnamurti

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Sujit Patwardhan
patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com
sujit at parisar.org <sujitjp at gmail.com>
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