Organisers to ensure that participants don't get a taste of Delhi traffic
Organisers to ensure that participants don't get a taste of Delhi traffic
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No thoroughfare: A traffic policeman stopping commuters from entering
the Commonwealth Games lane during its trial run from Safdarjung's Tomb
to Oberoi crossing in New Delhi on Sunday.u00a0u00a0 PIC/IMTIYAZ KHAN
The elaborate transport network which will be used by the 7,500 athletes, officials, referees and media visiting the city, would be jointly managed by Delhi Transport Corporation and the car manufacturer Tata Motors, roped in by the Organising Committee (OC).
"Transport is the backbone of the Games and we have to put in place a huge network comprising buses and cars," OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot said.
There will be 485 and 1000 cars under the T1 and T2 categories respectively, to be supplied by Tata Motors, OC Deputy Director General (Transport) Ashish Kumar said. The T3 and T4 categories would consist of fully air-conditioned buses from DTC.
Arrangements have been made to help foreigners bridge the communication gap. All they have to do is to look for the badge 'I Speak English' which will be worn by English-speaking drivers and conductors.
Around 3,000 car drivers have been employed to ferry high profile guests and VIPs, while 1,200 Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) drivers are being trained in English.
"The drivers are also being taught etiquette and made familiar with the routes. We will offer those badges to around 1,000 selected drivers who will fare well in the training," said Kumar.
"All the CWG buses would be exempted from using speed governors during the Games. We approached the authorities regarding this and they have agreed," OC Special Director General GG Thomas said.
"We will have enough provisions to handle any untoward incidents like car breakdown. Besides, all the drivers have been given instructions about what to do in case of any eventuality, including a terror attack," he added.
The drivers would be given communication radio sets and every car would be fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) by which their movements could be tracked. Besides, a 24X7 call centre would be set up to help the riders and it will work in tandem with Transport Operation Centre to be based at the OC Headquarters.
Tata has signed an agreement with the OC and the total cost of the service would be Rs 34 crore. Out of that the OC will reimburse Rs 10 crore in lieu of drivers' salary, fuel and management while the rest would be raised through sponsorship.
"We have already conducted a few rounds of trials and more would be done in the coming days to make the entire arrangement glitch-free," Kumar said.
Ferry tales
T1 category would have a fleet of dedicated cars which will be used by the top level officials including Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell.
T2 category on-call car service would be operational on the days of the Games.
Under T3, 349 buses would be used to ferry the athletes to and from all the venues on the days, including the days of opening and closing ceremonies, and 25 routes have already been identified for the purpose.
Commutation of mediapersons and the technical officials would fall under the T4 category which has 225 buses.
Other public transports, including DTC and the special metro services would come under the last category.
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