Logistics hubs key to reducing truck numbers
The NCR Transport Plan for 2032 had estimated that the truck traffic on Delhi roads would fall by about 23% once the expressways become operational. It also estimated that 46% of daily modal trips on Delhi’s roads was on account of cars.
NEW DELHI: Amid speculation of how many vehicles would go off the Delhi roads with the entire 270-km ring expressway becoming operational, government officials said on Monday that both the Centre and state governments in NCR need to push the proposal of building logistics hubs along the corridor to reduce entry of truck and other goods carrying vehicles to the national capital.
Setting up logistics hubs key to reducing truck numbers on Delhi roads
Earlier, highways minister Nitin Gadkari had mooted the proposal of “hub and spoke model” to deal with the heavy flow of trucks to Delhi. Under this model, big trucks transporting goods and containers transport the materials from factories to warehouses located along the major highways. Small vehicles, subsequently, transport the goods to the main city for consumption purpose.
The NCR Transport Plan for 2032 had estimated that the truck traffic on Delhi roads would fall by about 23% once the expressways become operational. It also estimated that 46% of daily modal trips on Delhi’s roads was on account of cars.
On the need for setting up of logistics hubs and a good last mile transport link to Delhi, an official said, “This reduces congestion and the smaller goods vehicles can ply on CNG, electricity or any other cleaner fuel, which results in less vehicular pollution. Large numbers of trucks will keep entering Delhi to unload their goods at wholesale markets and mandis.
Delhi’s own requirement is huge considering its 1.3 crore population and traders from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana come here for buying items in high quantity. So, expecting that trucks traffic will be very less due to the opening of the expressways would be unrealistic.”
“So, while developing logistics hubs would help address the truck traffic, you need to find solution to the congestion caused due to growing number of cars. It’s high time Delhi government and Centre iron out their differences to start work on the Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) on the first three corridors,” a former official of the NCR Planning Board said.
The three priority RRTS corridors are Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Alwar and Delhi-Panipat. In the absence of any reliable transport system, most of the people coming for work from the neighbouring areas of Delhi are left with no option than taking out their cars.
The approval for the first corridor of Delhi-Meerut RRTS has been caught in controversies with Delhi government opposing the plan to build an underground station at Sarai Kale Khan. Centre has accused Arvind Kejriwal government of raising objection only to delay the important project.
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