Sarai Kale Khan fails to deal with encroachments | Latest News Delhi - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Sarai Kale Khan fails to deal with encroachments

Hindustan Times | ByPranjal Choudhary, New Delhi
Jun 24, 2016 04:10 PM IST

Encroachments and haphazard parking have choked the approach road to Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station

Boarding a train from the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station from gate no 2 which opens to Sarai Kale Khan area is no less than a nightmare. The road starting from Ring Road to the station gate remains congested due to encroachments and witnesses slow moving traffic throughout the day caused by haphazard parking. The station caters to nearly 200 trains and 2.5 lakh passengers every day and this entrance is used by more than one lakh commuters.

The two lane parking which is on the side of the road adds to the traffic chaos here.(Tribhuwan Sharma / HT Photo)
The two lane parking which is on the side of the road adds to the traffic chaos here.(Tribhuwan Sharma / HT Photo)

If one approaches the station from Sarai Kale Khan side, one can spot encroachments by vendors and food stall owners leaving virtually no space for commuters and vehicles to move. This along with broken road dividers and illegally parked vehicles and autos affect the traffic movement.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

While the two other stations in the city, New and Old Delhi have had encroachments removed, the Nizamuddin station still faces severe encroachment issues. Garbage is strewn all over the road. This causes more problems and turn the area into a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The two lane parking which is on the side of the road only makes matters worse. The parking area which disrupts the flow of the traffic is barely 30 metres away from the entrance. When commuters approach the entrance, the cars would be on the left while there would be food shacks on their right. A haphazard arrangement of these cars and shacks leaves less than a metre in between for vehicles to pass through.

A haphazard arrangement of vehicles on one side and food shacks on the other leaves less than a metre in between for vehicles to pass through. (Tribhuwan Sharma / HT Photo)
A haphazard arrangement of vehicles on one side and food shacks on the other leaves less than a metre in between for vehicles to pass through. (Tribhuwan Sharma / HT Photo)

A board on the fence near the parking lot reads that the parking is government approved. The parking tickets given by the attendants have South Delhi Municipal Corporation printed on them. The person employed at the parking claims that they are running a legal enterprise. However, an SDMC official said the agency would need to check whether this parking facility is legal or not.

“We don’t know about this parking lot. We have assigned an area of 832 sqm for a four-wheeler parking and that too is only permitted in the service lane. I don’t think this parking is legal. They might be using counterfeited tickets.”

On the other hand, officials said that the area outside the station does not come under the railways. Next to the road, a vacant land designated as parking lot with an area of almost 5,000 sqm currently provides space for a government-run night shelter and delinquents. A resident of the area said, “This parking lot here is a sham. Locals have tried to remove this illegal parking in the past, but no one has succeeded in their efforts”.

Yogesh Chauhan, former president of the Nangli Razapur RWA, said that he has been fighting a battle to shut down the illegal and inconvenient parking on the main road. “The person who is running this parking area had filed a false case against me to stop me, but he is mistaken,” he alleged.

Unveiling 'Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On