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Noida: As visibility drops to near zero with dense fog engulfing Delhi-NCR, the Yamuna Expressway (YXP) concessionaire has been directed to ensure that reflective tapes are put on all heavy vehicles accessing the speedway and that all truckers park only at designated spots instead of roadsides.
The direction was made by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) after a 12-vehicle pile-up was reported on the speedway on Wednesday, when visibility was down to just a couple of metres.
“The concessionaire has been directed to take extra precautions due to the foggy conditions and has been asked to create additional lay-bys on the expressway, so that no vehicles are parked on roadsides. This can be a serious risk to accidents,” YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh said on Friday.
There are currently 10 lay-bys on the 165km expressway, each of them with the capacity to accommodate 15-50 large vehicles.
The CEO said vehicles parked along the roads and tractor trolleys running without any blinkers or reflective tapes will be removed by the concessionaire’s patrolling team. “Entry should not be permitted to any vehicles without backlights, blinkers, reflective tapes and number plates,” Singh said.
He also said that the Authority had flagged a few shortcomings after an inspection of the expressway earlier this year. “During one such inspection in February when the speed limit was set at 75kmph, many vehicles were found travelling at speeds of up to 140kmph, which is very dangerous. Effective enforcement for speed violations is required with the coordination of police and RTO. If any vehicle violates the speed limit on one stretch, it should be seized at the next toll plaza,” he added.
Though the normal speed limit is 100kmph on the fast corridor, it was reduced to 75kmph on December 15 due to dense fog in the area. This reduced cap will remain in effect till February 15.
Yeida has also asked the concessionaire to install boards at toll plaza and on the expressway to inform motorists about the speed limit. Announcements will also be made at the toll plazas.
Asked about the directions, the concessionaire said it has deployed additional staff and installed public announcement systems to raise awareness about traffic norms on the expressway.
“There are spaces along the main carriageways and the toll plazas where trucks can be parked without hindering traffic. Regular truck drivers are aware of them, and they park their vehicles here. For those vehicles that stop randomly on the roadsides, we have instructed our staff deployed in 11 patrolling vehicles to ask such vehicles to park at designated spots only,” said Sandeep Sharma, operations head (Yamuna Expressway).
Commuters said travelling on the expressway is risky during early morning and late night, when the density of fog is at its highest in a day. “Stationary vehicles on the stretch add to the problem. The concessionaire needs to take strict action against such drivers,” said Shashi Shekhar Mishra.
The direction was made by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) after a 12-vehicle pile-up was reported on the speedway on Wednesday, when visibility was down to just a couple of metres.
“The concessionaire has been directed to take extra precautions due to the foggy conditions and has been asked to create additional lay-bys on the expressway, so that no vehicles are parked on roadsides. This can be a serious risk to accidents,” YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh said on Friday.
There are currently 10 lay-bys on the 165km expressway, each of them with the capacity to accommodate 15-50 large vehicles.
The CEO said vehicles parked along the roads and tractor trolleys running without any blinkers or reflective tapes will be removed by the concessionaire’s patrolling team. “Entry should not be permitted to any vehicles without backlights, blinkers, reflective tapes and number plates,” Singh said.
He also said that the Authority had flagged a few shortcomings after an inspection of the expressway earlier this year. “During one such inspection in February when the speed limit was set at 75kmph, many vehicles were found travelling at speeds of up to 140kmph, which is very dangerous. Effective enforcement for speed violations is required with the coordination of police and RTO. If any vehicle violates the speed limit on one stretch, it should be seized at the next toll plaza,” he added.
Though the normal speed limit is 100kmph on the fast corridor, it was reduced to 75kmph on December 15 due to dense fog in the area. This reduced cap will remain in effect till February 15.
Yeida has also asked the concessionaire to install boards at toll plaza and on the expressway to inform motorists about the speed limit. Announcements will also be made at the toll plazas.
Asked about the directions, the concessionaire said it has deployed additional staff and installed public announcement systems to raise awareness about traffic norms on the expressway.
“There are spaces along the main carriageways and the toll plazas where trucks can be parked without hindering traffic. Regular truck drivers are aware of them, and they park their vehicles here. For those vehicles that stop randomly on the roadsides, we have instructed our staff deployed in 11 patrolling vehicles to ask such vehicles to park at designated spots only,” said Sandeep Sharma, operations head (Yamuna Expressway).
Commuters said travelling on the expressway is risky during early morning and late night, when the density of fog is at its highest in a day. “Stationary vehicles on the stretch add to the problem. The concessionaire needs to take strict action against such drivers,” said Shashi Shekhar Mishra.
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