Title - To decongest Metro stations, U-shaped lanes for auto-rickshaws

Auto-rickshaws blocking the entry-exit points, congestion, honking and complete chaos — it's a common sight outside all major Metro stations in the capital.

But soon it will become a thing of the past.

In a move to decongest the area outside key Metro stations, usually blocked by auto-rickshaws parked illegally, the Delhi Traffic Police has asked the Public Works Department (PWD) to construct U-shaped strips, or lanes, for auto-rickshaws at these stations and fix entry-exit points for them.

"It will be a U-shaped strip. Auto-rickshaws will enter the strip at a specific point, go behind the station, pick up passengers and exit from a fixed point. It will not only be convenient for passengers to board auto-rickshaws but will also decongest the area as auto-rickshaws will not occupy other road space," Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla said. "In the new Metro stations that are coming up, this feature is part of the construction plan," he added.

For the project, the traffic police has identified 35 Metro stations. The move comes after a survey was conducted at 19 stations, including RK Ashram, AIIMS, INA, Inderlok and Kashmere Gate. It was observed that drivers usually park their auto-rickshaws outside the entry-exit points and block the way of moving traffic. Although the traffic police book these auto-rickshaws for illegal parking daily, the problem has only got worse outside the stations.

In order to lay out the special strips for auto-rickshaws, the PWD, along with the land-owning agency, will only have to carry out minor changes such as removing some dividers, levelling the land, closing or opening new gates and removing encroachments, police said.

A PWD official said, "The maintenance department is carrying out the project. It is a part of retrofitting work across Metro stations."