Delhi is all geared up to hold the CWG 2010 and major projects are taking place all over the city. But before hosting the CWG, the government must curb the growing traffic menace and water logging, which have become a nightmare for Delhiites.

While the state government took all the steps to control traffic, whether it was the BRT, Metro phases (lines), hi-tech low floor A/C and non A/C buses, underpasses and flyovers, and undertook projects, but it actually failed to avoid traffic jams, which often occurs due to rainfall in the city and all it leads to is water logging resulting in traffic jams for hours. People on August 8, 2008, were unable to reach their destinations because of water logging in major areas like ITO, Vikas Marg, Madhuban Chowk, Ashok Vihar, among others. Various vehicles faced shut down due to water logging and some were stranded for hours.


The traffic on Delhi roads is growing everyday exponentially, hence the government has to take major steps to avoid water logging and heavy jams before we can actually host the CWG 2010. Public transportation has been made efficient by the state government, flyovers are being constructed but the authorities are not bothered about the maintenance of roads and sewers alongside.

After the two day rainfall, life in Delhi came to a standstill for several hours and trouble occurred during morning peak hours. The civic authorities are now playing ’the blame game’ and no one is taking responsibility for the traffic chaos. Chairman of the standing committee of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Vijendra Gupta said, "Our areas did not face water logging; traffic moved smoothly, it was the Public Works Department (PWD) which was at fault." "Chief Minister Sheila Dixit accepted that MCD is working hard and efficiently," Gupta further added. Meanwhile, the PWD said that MCD and New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC) did not work to tackle traffic jams and water logging and their water pumps were not deployed on the roads. MCD and PWD blamed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for unorganised traffic management and digging, which led to the traffic chaos.


The question is not only about water logging and traffic jams, but traffic chaos in Delhi is an everyday affair. Whether government has made flyovers, underpasses or express ways, office goers face the trouble during peak hours. It should be asked whether the government will be able to maintain the scene at the time of the CWG after it has provided all the facilities. It is not that people are at fault keeping their vehicles on roads for people have become smart and are using public transportation to avoid jams. For example people are using the Metro and low floor buses. Jawaharlal Stadium is undergoing renovation for the ensuing CWG. Officers working in those areas are being picked and dropped by office buses, some commute through pooling and very few commute in their cars. Hence, the picture is clear, people move smartly, government provides facilities but the faulty administration should be checked.


After the successful opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, held in Beijing recently, it’s a challenge for India to hold the 2010 CWG efficiently. The government needs to work on problems of water logging and traffic chaos especially when the whole world will be eyeing us.


China has shown that it deserves to be called as industrial giant and an upcoming Superpower, and the same is expected of India, which is being called the second industrial giant and Superpower to hold the CWG.