Soon, pelican signal to be installed near Rajnath’s residence

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the Delhi Traffic Police to install a signal outside the residence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at Akhbar Road for the safety of his visitors, sources said. 

Sources said a team of traffic policemen, led by senior officials, visited the Akbar Road on Friday to ascertain the need for installing a signal. A report in this regard has already been submitted to Special CP, traffic.

“The report states that instead of installing a red-light signal, a pelican signal would work in the area. The MHA had directed this to avert accidents near Singh’s residence at the Akbar Road,” said a senior traffic police official.

Muktesh Chander, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic), has confirmed that the department is planning to install a pelican signal outside Singh’s residence for the safety of pedestrians and visitors as vehicular flow is fast at the signal-free Akhbar Road. 

Ever since Rajnath Singh became the Home Minister and shifted his residence, the footfall at the Akhbar Road has increased. Due to fast movement of traffic on the stretch, it becomes difficult for pedestrians to cross the road. “Installing a pelican signal outside Singh’s residence is going to be beneficial to visitors,” he added.

“Pelican signals, the project started in 2009, are meant to help pedestrians cross busy intersections by pressing a switch attached to the system. The signal will turn red once the button is pressed and after 20-30 seconds it will turn green,” Chander added.

“Senior traffic policemen have directed the staff concerned to install the signal on an urgent basis and complete the work by Wednesday. But the department has failed to take permission from the New Delhi Municipal Council,” said another source.

However, it must be noted that the authorities concerned have failed to facilitate pedestrians and commuters in other areas of the national Capital, where there is an urgent need for pelican signals. For instance, on the busy stretch at the Mathura Road, there are many spots, where pedestrian crossing is risky.

About pelican siganls at other places, a senior official said: “The project is still going on and whenever we spot an area that requires pelican signal, we install the system.”