Not In Favour Of Signal-Free Corridors, Unnecessary Flyovers In what could come as a big relief to lakhs of pedestrians in Delhi, who are forced to walk on the main road risking their lives, a central government-appointed panel has recommended making parking and encroachment on foothpaths cognisable offences. Once it becomes law, police and enforcement agencies can book the offenders and can also make arrests. The committee set up for `Decongesting Traffic in Delhi', headed by urban development secretary Rajiv Gauba, has also recommended that signal-free corridors should be avoided as this only attracted more traffic. The report said building new flyovers should not be taken up unless it was over a river, a natural barricade, rail line or of there was no other solution. Focussing on measures to reduce private vehicles on city roads and to push buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws besides cycling and walking, the panel also suggested the need for stiff parking charges and congestion fee in crowded areas. To make pavements free for pedestrians, the panel said, “Parking on footpaths should be made a cognisable offence with heavy penalties and compounding. This should be done by utilising the relevant provisions of the Municipal Act for public space encroachment as well as the Delhi Motor Vehicle Act and Delhi Police Act for endangering the life of citizens.“ Pune Municipal Corporation did this in 2011. Noting that roads in the city covered almost 21% of the total land, 60% of passenger trips were below four km distance and 80% below six km, which were ideal for non-mo torised transport, the panel recommended development of infrastructure for promoting walking and cycling. The committee also recommended interventions involving Rs 20,000 crore investment through bus rapid transit system, walking and cycling infrastructure. Though the panel had representatives from 19 different agencies from central and Delhi governments, the final report seems heavily loaded with views from the Uni fied Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre of DDA. The committee also expressed serious concern over mushrooming of gated communities in the city which were compelling local traffic to come on to main roads by preventing short cuts for movement of people. Detailing the interventions to make city roads smoother and safer that could be completed within two and five years, the committee recommended establishing a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority for better coordination, quick decision-making and execution. It also suggested that the Delhi chief secretary , with representatives from other stakeholders, should monitor implementation. To deal with congestion caused by on-road parking in congested areas, the committee recommended five times charges for on-road parking than off-road. Even penal charges for parking violations should be 10 times the normal rates, it said. “As a thumb rule ­ higher the congestion, higher the fee to be levied in the area to reduce parking demand, premium rates should be charged for on-street parking in congested commercial areas,“ the report said.