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On my RTI appeal, the Central Information Commission (CIC) of India gave a ruling
in my favor despite the presence of NHAI General Managers at the hearing. You can
see the CIC judgment dated 15 April 2009 at the following link (although it is also
attached for your ready reference):
http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1942805/
The CIC rightly directed the NHAI to enforce the driving lane discipline on this
highway within 3 months. Although more than 6 years have passed, NHAI still has to
act. Sab chalta hai. We have similar situation on our 4-lane highways like NH 11
Jaipur- Agra Road where the trucks are plying on the right lane rather than in the left
lane, forcing cars to overtake illegally from the left lane which is also dangerous.
Mr. Prime Minister, we simply have jungle raj on our killer national highways
which carry about 40% of total traffic in India. If you can enforce the driving lane
discipline on our highways, it will reduce injuries and deaths.
2. Lack of Stop, Look and Go Policy at Intersections
During early 1900s when a large number of cheap cars such as Ford Model T came in
the market in the US, the vehicular traffic increased tremendously resulting in many
accidents especially at the highway and street intersections. The government erected
millions of STOP signs at intersections. Anybody coming from a side street (or less
important highway) to the main street (or important highway) was required to make a
dead stop at the intersections; look right and left; and then proceed slowly and
merge when there was a gap in the main road traffic. This law put a dent on road
accidents.
Similar situation has developed in India in recent years. With many cars and
motorcycles available on easy loan, vehicular traffic has increased. However, car and
motorcycle drivers enter the main street or main highway without even slowing and
without looking to right or left (even for their own safety, which is just common
sense). In other words, these drivers are acting like a horse which has blinders on
both sides of the eyes and is permitted to see straight only and not to right or left. I see
this strange phenomenon every day in Jaipur. Over 90% of drivers merge into main
street without slowing and without taking even a glance towards right or left. Vehicles
on the main streets generally travel with high speeds. All of sudden, they are blocked
by these vehicles which appear from nowhere and accidents happen. No wonder
Jaipur has the dubious distinction of being No. 4 on the list of dangerous Indian cities
having high road accidents.
If we can put up stop signs plus speed breaker (bump) just before the stop signs on the
side streets or secondary highways throughout India and ask the traffic authorities to
implement the stop, look and go policy, it would reduce accidents. Many of our
politicians, bureaucrats and technocrats praise this system when they see it in the
United States during their visits; but they do not have the desire, will or confidence to
implement it in India.
Mr. Prime Minister, only you can get these two humble suggestions implemented in
India similar to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan you started. You are the last hope!
Yours faithfully,