Jams, thanks to more lights at India Gate

NEW DELHI: Since last year, two new traffic signals have been added at India Gate roundabout, taking the total number of red lights on C-hexagon to five. The most recent traffic light, aiming to help out pedestrians at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, has come at a time when the war memorial is indefinitely closed to public. Commuters complain this has resulted in regular traffic snarls, especially during evening peak hours.India Gate is a crucial junction for traffic flow crossing from one part of the city to another.
While the concept of a pedestrian light is in itself important for pedestrian safety, the traffic light has been installed right in front of Amar Jawan Jyoti where police barricades have been placed for round-the-clock security and access is closed to pedestrians and others. While there was restricted access to India Gate in the beginning of the year, there has been complete clampdown in the area since February.
“We had earlier restricted access to India Gate from 4pm onwards everyday. After getting specific information from intelligence agencies of a terror threat following the Hyderabad blasts this year, access to India Gate has been banned totally. There is no clarity as to when entry will be allowed as in such cases we wait until we get specific information from intelligence agencies that the terror threat no longer exists,” said a police officer.
Meanwhile, the earlier synchronized traffic signaling system—of being able to skip all the three red lights at the roundabout—has now been replaced with a ‘block system’. Traffic officials contend that this system ensures minimal disruption of traffic. “The block system, which is being implemented at India Gate right now, allows commuters to cover half of the India Gate roundabout in 120 seconds without facing a red light. All the five red lights are red at the same time and green together as well,” additional commission of police (traffic) Anil Shukla said.
This is not true on ground, said regular users. “I have no choice but to use India Gate because I have to return to south Delhi from Connaught Place every evening. The jams on the roundabout are enough to make me start looking for long detours,” said Pratima Upadhyay, a regular commuter. In the evening, bulk of traffic moves to India Gate from Tilak Marg, where they encounter their first red light at the left turn entry to the roundabout. Successive red lights at Zakir Hussain Marg, Shahjahan road, Rajpath and KG Marg has a ripple effect.