City dug up, so no Games lanes trial

With a little over two months to go for Commonwealth Games, trial runs to sensitize Delhi drivers to dedicated Games lanes are yet to start. Reason — Delhi roads are all dug up and streetscaping work is delayed. And as a result, road markings for the dedicated lanes can’t be done.

In the absence of proper trials, it is being feared that traffic management could pose a major challenge during Games. Sources said past experience has shown that Delhi drivers take some time to switch to new road systems, that too with a lot of resistance. ‘‘If people are not exposed to the Games lane concept well in time, it could result in a lot of violations during the event. The volume of traffic is already so heavy that this kind of confusion is bound to lead to jams,’’ said sources.

The traffic police, who will execute the trials, contend that road markings have not been done without which trials are not possible. On their part, the cops have reportedly drawn up detailed maps of roads leading to the venues. The training venues, Games village, airport and the routes to be taken by different categories of vehicles are being charted out in advance. ‘‘We are ready to carry out trials for the Games lanes as soon as they are marked on the roads,’’ said a senior traffic cop.

A special committee constituted under R Narayanswamy to look into the matter says, the markings have been delayed as streetscaping work is not over and malba is still lying dumped on the roads. ‘‘A review meeting has been called on July 26, with civic agencies including MCD, NDMC, PWD and NHAI, to take stock of the situation. We need to hurry up matters and finish all the road markings at the earliest possible,’’ he said.