Bloody blue and bloody red

In this impersonal capital, accidents are not always the bus driver's fault. Swanky cars and SUVs don't follow much of road discipline either

Akash Bisht Delhi

Delhi traffic is a complex twilight zone. That it often turns into a daily death zone has more colours than just blue. Almost everyone on the roads is violating rules and driving ethics: especially the big bully cars and swanky SUVs, and not only those with Haryana and UP nameplates. No one cares for the other driver or cyclist or pedestrian. Everyone is eternally angry and forever abusing. Road rage is a continuous state of mind. In that sense the roads of Delhi and the traffic is a reflection of the inner essence of the city: “If I am wrong, you are to be blamed; If you cheat me, I will cheat someone else; If you hit me, I will hit someone else: If you abuse me, I will abuse someone else on the street.”

As for women, in a city which belongs to no one because there is no 'belonging' to the city or its own language, unlike Mumbai or Kolkata, all women are potential victims. Inside the car or on the footboard of a bus, as the driver breaks suddenly so that she can fall. All women must be overtaken, they can't be given space to move, and they must be put in their place. And pedestrians and cyclists, with all their faults, they can go to hell. In other words, they must die, if they have to, crushed or otherwise, in a city which indulges the rich and condemns the poor.

Dinesh Mohan, an authority on transportation safety, has argued that the numbers of accidents in Delhi are high because the roads are made keeping vehicles in mind and not cyclists and pedestrians. He stressed that Blueline buses were not completely at fault for the growing number of accidents as they have been ordered to ply on the left side of the road. That leaves no place for bicyclists or pedestrians. Most buses rush to the left lane only when they see traffic police personnel and to avoid being fined or booked.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority for the National Capital Region in one of its reports emphasised that the increase in number of personal vehicles is alarming. The city already has more than four million registered vehicles. In 2006, the city added nearly 0.36 million vehicles. That is, it is adding nearly 100 vehicles each day. The bulk of these vehicles are private - 963 new personal vehicles are added in the city each day, mainly cars. Cars have recorded decennial growth rate of 92 per cent — highest among all categories of vehicles (1995-96 - 2005-06). The Central Road Research Institute highlighted that Delhi has an estimated population of 9,21,000 registered motor cars, 2,231,000 two-wheelers and 41,000 buses.

The situation is likely to worsen due to increasing population and economic growth. The population of Delhi is expected to grow from 138 lakh in 2001 to 230 lakh by 2021. However, the daily transport demand is expected to grow from 139 lakh in 2001 to 279 lakh passenger trips by the year 2021. To cater to this demand, the mass transport system will need to be augmented substantially and the road infrastructure, traffic management and associated amenities have to be improved.