New Delhi, January 7
Rita, a visually-challenged young woman today took four hours to beat the Connaught Place (CP) evening rush and reach home. The growing darkness only increased her anxiety, but the traffic chaos around CP left her with no choice.

Rita was one of the thousands of victims of the traffic jams in and around CP and the India Gate caused by the construction of subways in the Outer circle.

The Auto Expo fair at Pragati Maidan, with parking facility at the India Gate, only added to the chaos.

Megha Mehra, a student who commutes from Rohini to ITO every day for her coaching classes, said, “The traffic was worst hit on Wednesday because it was the first day of the diversions, but even today there was not much improvement. Looks like the traffic police cannot manage the situation.

Shweta Verma, a resident of Greater Kailash, was a witness to people happily breaking the bus divider discipline on the BRT. “People were driving in the bus lanes and even on the footpaths supposedly to beat the jams, but this was causing more snarls. “I thought traffic advisories would help. But nothing seems to be working ‘’

As for the Auto Expo, Ashish Vishnoi said, “There is no point blaming the visitors to the fair for traffic snarls.”

Public transport was equally erratic and of no help to commuters.

Rajesh Sain, an office-goer, found the buses overloaded with people hanging out of the gates. “I was at Baba Kharak Singh Marg and no auto was plying. I had to walk all the way to ITO and it took me more than an hour.”

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has closed a large part of Outer Circle and Middle Circle to road traffic for construction of subways, causing this disruption in Connaught Place and all the roads leading to it.

“Wednesday was the first day when a sizable part of Outer Circle was barricaded to create space for construction of eight subways along the main road. As a result, half of the stretch was closed which is the reason behind the chaotic jam in the city,” said an engineer working on the site near Levis showroom in CP.

The eight subways that will come up in the Outer Circle will include one each near Super Bazar, Minto Road, State Entry Road, Chelmsford Road, Sher Bhagat Singh Marg, and two each at Punchkuian Road and Barakhamba Road on both sides of the Metro line. The total cost of this project is Rs 35 crore.

“Some amount of disruption is bound to happen when construction work takes place. We have already spoken to the traffic police about this, and the traffic has been diverted. The traffic advisory issued by the traffic police is available on radio, news channels and newspapers everywhere. People should be aware of the diversions and new routes, there is no other way out,” said NDMC PRO, Anand Tiwari.

The traffic police mainly blamed the Auto Expo for this. 

New Delhi, January 7
Although the water tariff in the national Capital has been increased from January 1 this year, some colonies in Delhi continue to get contaminated drinking water, while some others are managing with irregular supply.

The residents of Kailash Colony have been receiving sewage-like water for the past two weeks. The residents say that the water has a bad smell and is not fit for any use.

“We have lodged several complaints about the poor quality of water with the Delhi Jal Board, but the board has failed to improve the situation,” said S. Ravi, a resident of Kailash Colony, Block-19.

The residents said that DJB officials were trying to dismiss their complaints by saying that foul smell in water was due to excessive chlorine.

“It was only yesterday that some DJB officials visited the building, but even they left immediately without checking the water,” he said.

The residents have resorted to packaged drinking water for daily consumption. “We spend at least Rs 70 per bottle. In fact, we are using packaged water for washing utensils also, as the supply water cannot be used for any purpose,” said Deepak Kumar, another resident of Kailash Colony.

The DJB officials, however, admit that the pipeline to this colony, like many others in Delhi, passes below the sewerage line and the water sometimes gets contaminated due to leakages.

“When the sewer line gets very old, it develops cracks. The sewer line was overflowing and contaminating the water running in the water pipe below it,” said a junior engineer with the DJB.

Though the residents are still complaining about the water, the officials say that the pipeline has been repaired and now the water is absolutely pure.

“I have taken three to four samples of water in the colony. It is fresh and suitable for drinking,” he said.

According to sources in the DJB, the repair and maintenance work on a major pipeline in Delhi is also one of the main reasons behind erratic water supply in the city. Several parts of central, south and east Delhi, including areas like Chandni Chowk, Darya Ganj and Kashmeri Gate, did not get water yesterday.

“Repair works on a major pipeline distributing water from Wazirabad water treatment plant is affecting water supply in areas, including South Extension and Greater Kailash,” said a DJB officer.

Supply of water will also be affected in Mori Gate and adjoining areas, Ramlila Ground and nearby localities. In south Delhi, areas like South Extension and Greater Kailash will be affected.

New Delhi, January 7
The state government will appeal to the union government to increase its quota of sugar sold at fair price shops and other government outlets in the Capital. The government feels that it will help in controlling the spiralling prices of sugar.

The state cabinet took this decision today in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

It will be like pulses that are being sold at Delhi government outlets and Mother Dairy booths. A few months ago, onions and tomatoes were also being sold at controlled rates.

Delhi minister of food supplies Haroon Yusuf said that it would be a big relief for residents if the government agreed to increase the quota for Delhi.

He said the union government was importing sugar at Rs 43 delivered at a port in Andhra Pradesh. If transported to Delhi, it will cost Rs 50 after including the transportation cess. So there is hardly any chance of reducing the rate of sugar.

Packed sugar is available at Rs 50 and loose between Rs 44 and 46. But it is being sold at Rs 43 at Kendriya Bhandar outlets.

A Kendriya Bhandar official said that the control rate of the union government for sugar was likely to increase after a new consignment was supplied. It can go up to Rs 50.

He added that sugar was out of stock in most Kendrya Bhandar outlets. The new consignment was likely to be delivered by Saturday. 

New Delhi, January 7
Thousands of passengers were today stranded at different railway stations in the city, as many local and inter-city trains were either cancelled or running late by several hours.

Anxious passengers could be seen camping on the platforms of New Delhi railway station in the winter chill waiting for information about their trains.

The worst affected were the daily passengers who suffered for the second consecutive day as the trains to nearby cities were cancelled without any information.

The local trains that were cancelled today were Delhi-Jind Express, New Delhi- Rohtak Express, Delhi-Jind Special and Delhi-Panipat Special. Most of these are expected to stand cancelled tomorrow as well.

“I reached home at 1 am yesterday because of the rescheduling of my train,” said Brinjender Chaudhary, a daily passenger who reported two hours late for work today.

The daily passengers complained that all VIP trains were running smoothly and that only local trains were being cancelled or held over at different places due to lack of platforms to park them on stations.

“If Shatabdi can run smoothly in fog, why cant a local train. But the Railways gives priority only to Rajdhanis and Shatabdis,” said Vikas Rawat, a commuter.

He said it was more important for the daily passengers to reach their offices on time.

Pooja Nehra from Sonepat was stuck at New Delhi railway station while her children were waiting for her at home.

Outstation passengers also had a hard time waiting for their trains, most of which did not arrive.

“I have been standing in the enquiry queue for hours and I don’t think that I will get any information about my train,” said Vijay Kumar, a naval officer whose train to Mumbai was most likely cancelled.

Some passengers also complained that the auto and taxi drivers outside New Delhi railway station were charging exorbitant fares.

New Delhi, January 7
Though the Delhi government has announced to develop Baprola into a special economic zone, there is no road or rail connectivity. This is in contrast with Gurgaon where the Haryana government has developed IT park with all infrastructure necessary.

The main road connectivity for Baprola is Delhi-Rohtak Road that is at a long distance from the proposed SEZ. The nearest Metro station is of Rithala and Dwarka. Airport is also located around 15 km from the area.

An experts of IT industry said that transport connectivity is the most important for an industrial area. If transportation is not good, the industries will not be successful.

An official of the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) said that SEZ has been announced under the new industrial policy. It is to be developed within 30 months, sufficient to provide the infrastructure. Proper roads will be developed so that transport can be made easy.

Delhi industries minister Haroon Yusuf said the industrial areas and special economic zones are not located on roads but at da istance of 50 km and 24 km. Instead of listing the negative points, the people should appreciate the government’s concern for creating job opportunities.

When polluted industries and establishments run in residential areas were closed, the opposition criticised the government. Now with the development of SEZ, around 80,000 people will get jobs, but that is not being appreciated, he said.

Vini Mehta, educative director, MAIT, said that the Delhi government had announced SEZ when industries were looking for such a zone in Delhi and its nearby areas. The basic infrastructure required for the IT-based industries are manpower, training institute, connectivity, dataline, physical infrastructure, logistics in terms of early delivery of machinery and other things from the airport.

Jhilmil Friends Colony Industrial Association chairman Anil Gupta said road connectivity, market facility, security arrangement, water facility, power, etc are major infrastructure required before starting an industrial area. 

New Delhi, January 7
Delhiites living with HIV/ AIDS now have a reason to smile. The Delhi State AIDS Council (DSAC) today decided to give Below Poverty Line cards to them irrespective of their economic status.

However, the proposal is yet to be approved by the Delhi government. This was announced today by city health minister Kiran Walia.

If the proposal gets a nod from the government, it would come as a great relief to around 6,500 AIDS/ HIV patients who would then get free medication and traveling in DTC buses.

“The card would ensure that the patients get free treatment, including CT scan, MRI, ultrasound and special nucleic acid test along with nutritional support. The card would also enable them to reach treatment centres on DTC buses free of cost,” outlined Walia.

Adding that the facility of free travel would also be extended to the attendants of the patients, she said requests had also been received to allow the HIV/ AIDS patients to travel free on Metro trains.

The minister added that to generate awareness among the high-risk groups like rickshaw-pullers and unorganised sector workers, the government would chalk out educative programmes and hold campaigns. 

New Delhi, January 7
A 25-year-old newly married woman allegedly committed suicide last evening at her in-laws’ house in the Vikaspuri area of west Delhi.

According to the police, Neha Sharma was found hanging inside her room last evening and the matter was reported to the police by her husband and mother.

However, the parents of the girl have refuted the claims of in-laws and alleged that she was killed by her husband Rajeev and his mother who were harassing her for dowry. No suicide note was found with the body.

According to information, Neha had got married to Rajeev about two months ago. Originally from Agra, Neha’s father Raj Narayan Sharma told the police that his daughter had called him and told about more demands of the family for the past one month.

“I had given Rs 5 lakh cash and a Pulsar motor cycle in the marriage and all was well till a few days after the marriage when Rajeev and his mother started harassing Neha for more money. Either she was killed by her in-laws or she was harassed so much by these people that she committed suicide,” said Sharma in his complaint to the police.

According to information, the news about their daughter’s death was conveyed to Sharma by the police.

A case in this regard has been registered at Vikaspuri police station. “We have lodged a case based on the complaint by the girl’s father and are investigating the matter. No arrest has been made so far,” said Anand Lakra, SHO, Vikaspuri police station. The area SDM has been informed about the incident and an independent inquiry is being conducted by his office as well.

The body of the deceased was handed over to her relatives after the autopsy and the report would be submitted to the SDM.

Rajeev works as a salesman with a jeweller at a mall in Gurgaon. Neha was living in her marital house at Vikaspuri.

Greater Noida, January 7
The body of a man, who went missing from Vijay Nagar in Ghaziabad on January 4, was today recovered from bushes in Greater Noida.

“Around 1 am today, the body of 37-year-old Bharat Singh, a resident of Chipyana village in Ghaziabad, was recovered from bushes in the Kasna industrial area. The body that was naked had strangulation marks around the neck. There was no other injury mark on it. The body was identified by the brother of the victim who had gone to the spot with the Vijay Nagar police. We have sent the body for post-mortem as it was recovered from our area. However, further investigations will be done by the Vijay Nagar police,” said D. K. Walliyan, station house officer (SHO), Kasna.

“A report about Bharat’s disappearance was registered by his brother Azad Singh on Tuesday evening. The report, lodged at the Vijay Nagar police station, names three persons— Udham Singh, Vijay Pal and Yogesh Singh. Azad Singh said that the accused kidnapped his brother on January 4 and later killed him,” said Rajinder Kumar Verma, the inquiry officer.

“One of the accused has been detained and questioned. He told the police that he and his accomplices, in an inebriated state, got into an argument with Bharat. The argument got violent and the three strangled him and dumped his body in the bushes. Bharat Singh was a driver,” said Verma.

“A manhunt has been launched to arrest the other two accused. We are trying to find the motive of the crime. Although the first accused claims that it happened accidentally in an inebriated state, the picture will get clearer only when the other accused are arrested,” said Verma.