Adviser red flags foot over bridges - Punjab
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Asija, Navdeep
Feb 4, 2016, 10:05:46 PM2/4/16
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Feb 05 2016 : The Times of India (Chandigarh)
Vibhor Mohan
Chandigarh:
The findings are based on a survey in Mohali, where four-foot bridges have been put up at a cost of Rs 2 crore spent, but are in no way helping the cause of pedestrians. In fact, these structures don't meet even the pedestrian volume or traffic safety criteria.
Traffic adviser Navdeep Asija says in his advisory note, “Results (of the report) revealed that present foot over bridges are actually facilitating uninterrupted movement of the motor vehicle and not helping the pedestrians.“
The report on `Safe Road Pedestrian Infrastructure in Punjab' says that in 2014, 339 pedestrians lost their life in urban areas of Punjab. But the attempt made by many cities to offer a solution with foot over bridges is turning out to be “unscientific, expensive and ineffective way to solving the problems“.
“Pedestrians need to be facilitated via at-grade facilities by installing traffic-calming devices such as speed tables and traffic islands by reducing the speed of motor vehicles at critical points rather pushing them to use grade separated foot over bridges,“ it adds.
Quite contrary to the idea of facilitating pedestrians by installing traffic calming de vices such as speed tables and traffic islands to reduce the speed of motor vehicles at critical points, it was found that present foot over bridges is forcing pedestrians to cover 5-10 times longer distance with up and down movement to cross the same stretch of the road.“During the pedestrian traffic volume studies over four days, it was found that utilization of such wrongly planned infrastructures for pedestrians is almost zero,“ adds the report.
In case of Mohali particularly, the study found that over the last three years, 21 pedestrian deaths were reported at 21 different locations within the municipal limits, but foot over bridges are constructed at place where they were not desirable. In fact, Mohali becomes the first of its kind city in the country , where foot over bridges are constructed at a traffic signal, where it is much easier to cross via zebra crossing, the study says.It notes that another road safety hazard is being created by installing advertisement on the railing of FOB facing motorist near traffic lights. It is also felt that such undesirable infrastructure may add threat to the personal security of women and children, especially during early morning or night hours when there is less traffic on the roads.“Outdoor advertising devices on the face of these foot over bridges are not only distracting drivers but also block visibility of traffic lights at the intersection,“ adds the report.
Besides, such underutilized over bridges are becoming hubs for anti-social activities, especially before sunrise and after sunset.
In the advisory note sent to the technical adviser to CM and chief administrator GMADA, Asija has said, “It is advised that in future, kindly avoid such inadequate and expensive infrastructure to the name of pedestrian safety .“
Vibhor Mohan
Chandigarh:
`Don't Meet Pedestrian Volume'
Punjab's traffic adviser has pointed out that foot over bridges (FOBs) have come up in the state at places where pedestrians are not prone to accident or find movement on roads difficult and thus, there is need to put an end to the practice.The findings are based on a survey in Mohali, where four-foot bridges have been put up at a cost of Rs 2 crore spent, but are in no way helping the cause of pedestrians. In fact, these structures don't meet even the pedestrian volume or traffic safety criteria.
Traffic adviser Navdeep Asija says in his advisory note, “Results (of the report) revealed that present foot over bridges are actually facilitating uninterrupted movement of the motor vehicle and not helping the pedestrians.“
The report on `Safe Road Pedestrian Infrastructure in Punjab' says that in 2014, 339 pedestrians lost their life in urban areas of Punjab. But the attempt made by many cities to offer a solution with foot over bridges is turning out to be “unscientific, expensive and ineffective way to solving the problems“.
“Pedestrians need to be facilitated via at-grade facilities by installing traffic-calming devices such as speed tables and traffic islands by reducing the speed of motor vehicles at critical points rather pushing them to use grade separated foot over bridges,“ it adds.
Quite contrary to the idea of facilitating pedestrians by installing traffic calming de vices such as speed tables and traffic islands to reduce the speed of motor vehicles at critical points, it was found that present foot over bridges is forcing pedestrians to cover 5-10 times longer distance with up and down movement to cross the same stretch of the road.“During the pedestrian traffic volume studies over four days, it was found that utilization of such wrongly planned infrastructures for pedestrians is almost zero,“ adds the report.
In case of Mohali particularly, the study found that over the last three years, 21 pedestrian deaths were reported at 21 different locations within the municipal limits, but foot over bridges are constructed at place where they were not desirable. In fact, Mohali becomes the first of its kind city in the country , where foot over bridges are constructed at a traffic signal, where it is much easier to cross via zebra crossing, the study says.It notes that another road safety hazard is being created by installing advertisement on the railing of FOB facing motorist near traffic lights. It is also felt that such undesirable infrastructure may add threat to the personal security of women and children, especially during early morning or night hours when there is less traffic on the roads.“Outdoor advertising devices on the face of these foot over bridges are not only distracting drivers but also block visibility of traffic lights at the intersection,“ adds the report.
Besides, such underutilized over bridges are becoming hubs for anti-social activities, especially before sunrise and after sunset.
In the advisory note sent to the technical adviser to CM and chief administrator GMADA, Asija has said, “It is advised that in future, kindly avoid such inadequate and expensive infrastructure to the name of pedestrian safety .“
Devinder Chopra
Feb 4, 2016, 11:20:07 PM2/4/16
to nmt-gurgaon
Dear Navdeep Asija ji,
A common man like me has been saying that:
"...such steel-made over bridges cost the earth to the exchequer/s of the ULBs or the State Govts. concerned, BUT no one listens...."
How else will the "thekedars" not make a buck with the natural leakages, that have become a part of our lives, with or w/o any tenders concerned !
i am glad you have been able to convince one State Govt. -- hopefully the sister State Govt. in the same City and ....LEARN !
Another question does get be alive -- where else in the world do they see such steel-made FOBs, when our officials go on the earlier era of "study-tours" ?...regardless of whether any reports got filed !
Congratulations on what you say below and achieved:
"In the advisory note sent to the technical adviser to CM and chief administrator GMADA, Asija has said, “It is advised that in future, kindly avoid such inadequate and expensive infrastructure to the name of pedestrian safety .“ "
Best regards & Peace -- dev chopra in gurgaon /9810338049
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