'Tactical urbanism trial' launched at Mukundpur Chowk to test urban design
New Delhi: To make commuting safe in the national capital, a "tactical urbanism trial" has been launched at the Mukundpur Chowk to test urban design, transportation planning and infrastructural changes for improving road safety.
This is the sixth such trial in the city with the previous ones conducted at Bhalswa Chowk, Rajghat Intersection, Gandhi Vihar, Burari Chowk and the Signature Bridge. The intervention area at Mukundpur Chowk where the trial has been undertaken, witnessed 32 serious accidents between 2017 and 2021, causing 10 deaths and 35 injuries, according to Delhi Traffic Police data. The project has been launched by NGO SaveLIFE Foundation in partnership with the Delhi Traffic Police and support from the Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited.
"Tactical urbanism trials are temporary, quick and relatively low-cost interventions, which test out urban design, transportation planning and infrastructural changes for improving road safety for all road users, especially the most vulnerable, like pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised transport users," according to a statement from the NGO.
Once the interventions are proven, the government agencies are expected to make them permanent, it said.
The redesigning project at Mukundpur Chowk has led to a 72 per cent reduction in the pedestrian exposure distance and a 121 per cent increase in space available for pedestrians, according to preliminary data collected since the project was launched last month.
On the road safety situation at the chowk, Executive Engineer (North Maintenance Circle), Delhi Public Works Department, Vijender Singh, said, "With an average of approximately 22,000 pedestrians and approximately 1,50,000 vehicles using the Mukundpur Chowk on a daily basis, this location experiences heavy pedestrian footfall and vehicular
movement."