Gurgaon to have intelligent traffic system

Police in Gurgaon plan to install liquid crystal display (LCD) screens at major intersections as part of an IT-driven system to streamline road traffic during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

"The screens will provide information about traffic at the next intersection, alternative routes and parking lots. This is part of the Intelligent Trffic System (ITS)," Police Commissioner S.S. Deswal said Sunday.


A traffic police official said that "itelligent" traffic lights and variable message signs (VMS) would be the focus of the system.

"Currently, we have traffic signals with prefixed timings. In the intelligent signalling, there will be sensors fixed on roads which would read the volume of traffic on the road on the basis of which the signals would turn green and red," he said.

Also, the system will have a device to scan registration number plates.

"With this we can know whether the vehicle has been used in any criminal activity. Data of such vehicles will already be stored in the device," the official said.

The major intersections where the ITS is likely to be installed are Shankar Chowk, IFFCO Chowk, Rajeev Chowk, Golf Course road, the road that leads to CWG venue and the Gurgaon-Faridabad road.

Indian workers mistreated in Commonwealth Games preparations

In New Delhi, migrant labourers are rushing to finish construction for the Commonwealth Games in October. But according to a panel set up by an Indian court, the labourers are living and working in "rock-bottom" conditions that violate Indian laws. The committee has filed a report accusing government-appointed companies of denying minimum wages, adequate accommodation, basic equipment and medical care to many of the 17 thousand workers on the Games sites.

Presenter: Murali Krishnan
Speakers: Subodh Kumar Sahu, Indian worker; Mridula Bajaj, executive director Mobile Creche

KRISHNAN: For over six months, Subodh Kumar Sahu, a migrant worker from the northern state of Bihar has stepped up his pace of work at the Commonwealth Games village venue putting in nine hours of work as India's games organising committee scurries to meet its projects deadline. Like Sahu, thousands of migrant workers have travelled to the capital in the hope of getting construction jobs.

Much of the work at the venues for athletics, swimming and weightlifting is being done by more than 400,000 contract daily wage workers. Many have come with their families, including children who are exposed to hazards, lack of proper hygiene and adequate care.

This was confirmed by a monitoring panel that filed a report to the Delhi High Court saying working conditions at the construction sites were poor and many accidents went unreported, while workers continued to work without proper safety gear. The court-appointed committee further said that over 40 workers had been killed building venues for the upcoming Games because of dangerous work sites and for wages less than the minimum rates.

In theory, injured workers are entitled to medical care and compensation, but for most people those particulars exist only on paper. Sahu says he has no option but to carry on with work to meet ends meet.

SAHU: (IN HINDI) It was difficult getting work in the first place but after getting one here we have got no conveniences. It is tough as I have to feed a family and the money is simply not enough.

KRISHNAN: While contractors said the men worked for eight hours every day with a half- day off on Sunday, the committee found workers were made to toil for at least 12 hours without any weekly off in some locations. This has become even harder to check because of new restrictions such as fencing off and closing sites to the public and to inspection.

Women who moved around with their children also faced job discrimination and many live in squalid conditions without electricity, adequate toilet facilities or creches for the children.

Mridula Bajaj, executive director of Mobile Creche which works with construction workers and their children say building contractors have made no provisions for creches.

BAJAJ: Under Indian law there is a provision for cr�ches at work sites so that women can leave their children in a safe place but largely those are not followed by the builders or contractors. Therefore there are very few provisions for children at the work sites. So both children and women suffer a lot when they are working in construction sites.

KRISHNAN: The committee had visited the 10 Games venues - construction sites and workers' camps - before it submitted its indicting report that has brought to light the pitiable conditions of the workers and the breach of various labour laws.

Sunil Lall another construction worker from Uttar Pradesh says the government has to step in to look after workers interests.

LALL: (IN HINDI) The government should be pro-active and look after our interests. There are thousands of workers all over Delhi working at venues and many suffer a lot. At the end of day what do we get, just enough to feed the family. That is it.

KRISHNAN: The slow pace of construction and repeatedly missed deadlines still threatens the world's third largest multi-national sporting event that is scheduled to be held from October 3-14 and feature 71 nations and territories of the old British Empire.

News source http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/201003/s2853689.htm

‘Why should we pay for Games?’

Already reeling under rising prices, the verdict of the people of Delhi on finance minister A K Walia’s budget was clear — that the government was making them pay to meet the escalating cost of hosting the Commonwealth Games. There was an outcry over the government’s move to increase prices of basic commodities like LPG, tea, coffee, utensils, desi ghee etc.

Ritu Arora, who works in HDFC Bank, feels that even if the government felt the need to increase taxes, it should have left out products of daily need like tea, LPG and ghee.

Said Arora: ‘‘The lower middle class will be the worst-affected. The middle class, on the other hand, will also have to struggle to make ends meet.’’

‘‘The price hike will obviously increase people’s troubles. Living in the city is already quite expensive for us and now it’s going to be worse. This government protects the rich people’s interest only and completely disregards the poor,’’ said T R Sharma, a retired government employee.

According to Delhiites, while their salaries have stagnated, the prices of basic commodities keep on rising as a result of which they are being made to spend every paisa that they earn.

Complained Vijay Singh, who works as a network engineer: ‘‘Right from vegetables to LPG, everything is more expensive now. But our salaries have not increased at the same pace. The government should have increased the prices of luxury products only.’’

Ritu Kapoor, who is a homemaker, was angry: ‘‘Why should we pay for the Commonwealth Games? After this, it will not be possible for me to survive on my monthly budget. We all dream of sending our children to private schools, but with the escalating costs, how will we be able to ensure a better future for them?’’

Meanwhile, with the budget leading to an increase in the prices of mobile phones and cellphone accessories, Indian Celllar Association national president Pankaj Mohindroo said: ‘‘We are hopeful that the Delhi state government will not go ahead with the increase of VAT from 4% to 12.5% on mobile handsets that are priced greater than Rs 10,000 to avoid trade distortions.’’

Someone else plays games, you pay for it

The Commonwealth Games get underway, the Delhi government has suddenly woken up to the unpleasant fact that it is broke.

It needs a whopping Rs 1,000 crore to fund the numerous projects that it has been dangling before the citizens of Delhi in the name of Commonwealth Games for years and that the only way it can get that money is by dipping into your already stressed and lightened-by-the-Centre pockets.

The hiking of the Value Added Tax on diesel, CNG and a number of necessary items might make a dent in your income and savings, but look at the upshot: the exchequer will instantly become richer by as much as Rs 805 crore.

Fresh out of the shock of increased petrol and diesel prices in the Union Budget last month, the common man will again find his kitchen budget going topsy turvy thanks to the removal of the Rs 40 subsidy on LPG cylinders, but the government will be richer by another Rs 170-odd crore, thanks to this move.

Always the optimist, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit thinks Delhiites can and are ready to afford the hike.

“The standard of living has increased, so we think that the people will be able to afford the hike,” Dikshit said after the Budget on Monday.

“There has been a lot of developmental work in the city and there’s lots more to happen. A lot more money is needed for that and the government has no option but to slightly burden the people to incur the losses,” she said.

While the government might have spent more than it could afford on the Games, it could have easily distributed the hike over three-four years thereby cushioning the shock for hapless Delhiites.

But then in the past three years Dikshit, a seasoned politician, had elections to win. Starting from the MCD elections in mid-2008, the Assembly elections in November that year and the General Elections in May, last year, the “political seasons” were not right for any kind of hike.

Now, with no more elections around the corner, the gloves are off.

“The subsidy for LPG was given in June 2008 when the inflation rate was very high. A lot has been spent in the wake of the Games,” she said.

The aggressive VAT structure also increased the Delhiites’ cost of living, as luxury items—from high-end mobiles to apparel to aerated drinks—will attract a heavier tax.

In Walia’s Rs 26,000-crore Budget outlay, transport and road infrastructure continued to be the thrust area receiving 38 per cent of the funds—up from last year’s 35. Urban Development and Water Supply/Sanitation got 13 per cent apiece—the second biggest chunks of the pie.

But the residents can’t complain. There’s still some silver lining that they can look forward to. “From next year onwards, we will concentrate more on the social sector,” Dikshit said.

We are doing our best. Delhi is still cheap to live in

Delhi’s finance minister for seven years, Ashok Kumar Walia (61) called this year’s budget a “tough call”.

“It was by no means easy announcing such harsh measures. Our financial position has forced us to raise taxes and withdraw various subsidies,” he told Hindustan Times after presenting the budget in Delhi Legislative Assembly.

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: The Commonwealth Games are proving to be a costly affair for Delhi. Is it fair to make ordinary residents pay higher taxes when they are already hard hit by the rising inflation?

We are in a tight situation as far as the Commonwealth Games go. From Rs 11,000 crore in 2007-2008, our savings have dwindled to about Rs 2,000-odd crore. We used up our savings to give rebates and subsidies. These subsidies and discounts cannot last forever. Our budget has also gone up. We had to revise our tax structure to improve our collections.

Will Delhi residents be made to suffer next year, too?

Increase in taxes and withdrawal of subsidies is never permanent. We were the only government to give a subsidy of Rs 40 on domestic LPG cylinders when the Centre hiked the cylinder prices. Tax on diesel is lowest in India. We incurred losses in our revenue collections due to deviations in VAT. Due to these deviations, the Centre also reduced our annual compensation by Rs 300 crore annually.

Just three weeks back, diesel and petrol prices were hiked in the Union Budget. And you have again raised diesel prices. Is it fair? Will it not have a cascading impact on prices of all essential items (by way of increased transportation cost)?

It is not unfair. Tax on diesel in most states is more than 20 per cent. In Punjab, it is 27.5 per cent, in Gujarat it is 25 per cent, in most south Indian states the tax on diesel is 25-27.5 per cent. We kept it low at just 12.5 per cent for many years. Unlike other states, the government in Delhi does not own land. It is with the DDA. We are in a tight financial position and have to look for avenues to increase our revenue.

You had presented soft budgets in 2008 and 2009. Was the government waiting for elections to get over to announce harsh measures?

We gave subsidies as long as we could afford. But our budget has grown now. We give pension to a large number of widows, physically challenged and old people. Subsidy on uniform has been increased. We still give Rs 250 crore subsidy on power. We are doing whatever best we can do. Delhi is still the cheapest place to live in.

Before Games, MCD to tackle dengue and malaria

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is gearing up to battle the vector borne diseases like Malaria and Dengue during the Commonwealth Games 2010.

Vector-borne diseases are those that are transmitted to humans or other animals by an insect or other arthropod, which are typically mosquitoes or ticks.

“Vector surveillance and control measures have been strengthened in view of large-scale construction activities all over the city,” said Dr. NKYadav, medical health officer, MCD.

“The MCD has constituted 12 Sentinel surveillance teams, apart from engaging 3,500 Domestic Breeding Checkers from April 1, 2010 for strengthening vector control measures,” he said.

According to Dr Yadav, timely intervention and defogging in congested areas will help in preventing the outbreak of diseases like dengue and malaria.

“If we can start work as planned, the situation should be under control in October — the peak dengue season.”

The civic agency has also ordered additional fogging machines, sprinklers and insecticides to check breeding of mosquitoes.

“Effective control measures are needed if we really want to have an uneventful Commonwealth Games,” said Dr. Kanwar Sain, Delhi mayor.

“We also need assured political commitment and all types of assistance from the government,” he said.

Roads, transport drive away with lion’s share

Thanks to the upcoming Commonwealth Games, transport and road infrastructure remains a top priority area for Delhi government.

The sector has received a whopping 38 per cent of the total outlay in the government’s 2010-11 annual plan.

The capital will get 3,775 sleek low-floor buses at a cost of Rs 2,019 crore by the time the Commonwealth Games begin in October.

About 2,300 low-floor AC and non-AC buses have already been added and 1,475 more buses are likely to be added by August 2010. The government has sanctioned Rs 675 crore to buy new buses in the budget.

To wean away people from private modes of transport, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is going to introduce a special non-stop service on 50 busy routes.

The government will also launch a GPS-based automatic vehicle tracking and monitoring system to start an ‘online bus information system’.

Expansion of the city's lifeline, Delhi Metro, is being aided with the allocation of Rs 1,260 crore in the budget.

Five corridors of Delhi Metro’s Phase II are functional. The sixth corridor, between Inderlok and Mundka, will start operation soon.

Work on other corridors such as the Airport Express link are on schedule. The Delhi government is investing Rs 4,439 on Metro’s Phase II expansion.

The epithet of ‘city of flyovers’ that Delhi has earned is justified by the completion of flyovers and road over-bridges (ROBs) in Mukerba Chowk, Bahera Enclave, RR Kohli Marg, Shastri Nagar pushta, ITO chungi, Nelson Mandela Marg, Rao Tula Ram Marg and Aruna Asaf Ali-IIT gate. The flyovers at Azadpur and Naraina are nearing completion.

The government has invested Rs 5,646 crore on 26 flyovers, ROBs and road under-bridges being constructed by the Public Works Department.

Elevated corridors at Barapulla Nallah, Ring Road by-pass from Salimgarh fort to Indira Gandhi stadium, a bridge at Neela Hauz, a flyover at NH-24 bypass near Gazipur and a flyover at Shyamlal College will also be completed before September 2010.

Additional parking sites are being built over drains such as Kushak nallah, Sunehri Bagh nallah, DPS Mathura Road nallah and the ash pond of IP station near Ring Road. The projects, to be completed before the Games, will cost Rs 473 crore.

There’s something for pedestrians too. A total of 26 foot over-bridges, apart from the 31 that have already been built by PWD, are set to come up this year.

“When there is a good amount of budget allocated to transport, it’s a good sign,” said P.K. Sarkar, Head of Transport Planning Department, School of Planning and Architecture.

“The government should aim at comprehensive mobility so that all sections of people are benefited,” he said.

“At present, less than 50 per cent of all trips in Delhi are covered by public transport. The figure should be at least 75 per cent. The reliability of public transport has to grow,” he added.

The government has decided to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle to develop and maintain ISBTs, bus depots and bus shelters so that DTC can concentrate only on bus operations.

The streets of the capital will also be beautified for the Commonwealth Games, with Rs 198 crore allocated for street lights on PWD roads.

This is apart from the Rs 83 crore given to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for new streetlights on major roads.

About 50 lakh potted plants will be used to beautify major intersections and space along all major roads leading to Games venues at a cost of Rs 35 crore.