Latest news with #TRAX
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
These roads in Noida could test your driving skills
Noida: Weeks of monsoon showers have once again laid bare Noida's poor road infrastructure, with key stretches across market hubs, transit points, and residential areas developing craters and rough patches. From the busy Botanical Garden bus stand to Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Atta Peer near Sector 16 Metro station, roads are now pockmarked with potholes, making daily travel treacherous for commuters. One of the worst-affected areas is a speed breaker near Botanical Garden, which has broken apart after recent rains, putting to test the driving skills of residents who have paid lakhs to purchase homes in the city. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida On average, a 1,000 square feet home in Noida costs anywhere between Rs 90 lakh and Rs 1 crore, excluding registration costs. But the infrastructure in the city of highrises has not been to match up. "The potholes not just slow down traffic but also increase the risk of accidents," said Gaurav Kumar, a regular commuter from Sector 37 to Knowledge Park. "Repair work is either delayed or shoddy." Patches on the approach road near Okhla Bird Sanctuary, a key gateway for traffic entering Noida from Delhi, has been washed way. Stagnate rainwater on this stretch, worsen the wear and tear caused by heavy traffic from areas like Kalindi Kunj and Okhla. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa Prices in Dubai Might Be Lower Than You Think! Villa for sale in Dubai | Search Ads Learn More Undo Further down in central Noida, the road between Atta Peer and Sector 16 Metro station has developed multiple cracks and patches. No repairs mean they are left to deteriorate with each downpour. Experts say poor drainage and lack of long-term planning are at the root of the problem. "Water seeps into the road and weakens the asphalt," said Anurag Kulshrestha of TRAX, a road safety NGO. "Without proper drainage, rainwater lingers and breaks down the road's surface." Noida Authority told TOI that repairs were on the way. "We are identifying damaged spots and will begin patchwork soon," deputy general manager (civil) Vijay Rawal said.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Time of India
Bike stunts on Noida Expressway trigger city's highest traffic fines
Noida: Traffic police fined a man Rs 53,500 for violating norms after a video surfaced of him and a woman performing a dangerous stunt on the Noida Expressway. This is the second highest challan issued to a biker for violations in Noida. Earlier this month, a man was seen doing stunts on a bike in Sector 112, and later issued the highest fine issued for traffic violation. "In that case we issued a challan of Rs 63,500 – which is the highest so far," said traffic sub-inspector Vinay Tomar. The rider was fined for dangerous driving, violation of traffic rules, disobedience of any direction lawful given by authority and violation of PUC norms. The five-second clip of the most recent incident, which was widely circulated on social media on Sunday, showed the duo riding without helmets, with the woman seated reverse on the fuel tank facing the man, while holding a helmet behind the driver's back. CCTV cameras installed on the expressway also recorded the act. Cops took suo-moto cognizance of the video and, based on the footage, traced the vehicle using the number plate and issued an e-challan around 1.40pm on Sunday. DCP (Traffic) Lakhan Singh Yadav said that the challan of Rs 53,500 was issued under various sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, including 181, 184, 184A, and 194D, which pertain to dangerous driving, riding without a helmet, disobedience of lawful directions, and other traffic violations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Police said that such reckless behaviour not only endangers the lives of the riders but also puts other commuters at risk. Strict enforcement measures are being taken to discourage stunts and rash driving on expressways, cops added. Between Jan and May this year, Noida traffic police issued nearly 11 lakh challans, of which over 6 lakh were for riding without helmets – a stark reminder of the ongoing challenge to enforce road safety regulations across the city. In 2024, traffic police issued 27 lakh fines – nearly 7,000 per day. The maximum number of fines were issued to bikers without a helmet (17 lakh), followed by jumping red light (1 lakh) and speeding (86,000). During the same period, 966 people were injured and 462 died in 1,165 road accidents in the district. Anurag Kulshrestha, president of road safety NGO TRAX, said that there needs to be stricter enforcement of traffic norms on the roads to prevent violations. "Also, the penalty should be high enough to make a deterrence among road users. Then if the challans are issued, there should be a proper recovery mechanism. In the current scenario, the issued challans remain pending and people continue to drive. In comparison, in foreign countries, in three violations the driving licenses are suspended for two years. Similar enforcement measures should be applied here," he said. Recently, a trend has emerged of bikers racing on the Noida Expressway during the weekends. Police usually stop these bike racers, who come here from Delhi and Gurgaon, and travel to the Zero Point via Noida Expressway. The high-speed bikers not only endanger their own lives but also raise safety concerns for others too while participating in an unconventional racing format on expressways, police said.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
Death trap disguised as safety gear: Close to 70% of helmets sold in capital are fake
Across the capital, it's a familiar sight: helmets, many times non-certified ones, hanging from the handlebars, stuffed into storage compartments or balanced on heads with unfastened straps. It's only when riders spot a uniform in the distance that the helmets are pulled out. But this could be too late and too loose. Between Jan and April, as many as 1,89,015 challans were issued and 62,863 notices were issued for violations caught by cameras. Fatal accidents in Delhi involving two-wheelers surged from 441 in 2020 to 611 in 2024. These issues, once seen as minor infractions, were brought to the forefront at the National Summit on Road Safety, in collaboration with TRAX and CRRI, supported by helmet company Steelbird, on Thursday. At the event, two helmets — one BIS-certified, manufactured by a private company, and another a counterfeit headwear — were subjected to a series of impact, durability, and retention tests by a reputed private manufacturer. The result was telling. The certified helmet retained its shape and withstood all pressure tests. The fake one crumpled almost immediately, and its protective core shattered. The takeaway couldn't be clearer: a fake helmet is a death trap disguised as safety gear. Experts at the summit were unanimous: helmets save lives but only when they're authentic and worn correctly. So why is the problem so persistent? Prof Manoranjan Parida, director, CSIR-CRRI, speculating why people don't wear a helmet or wear the wrong types, said, "Over 70% of helmets sold in the city are fake. Enforcement must be strict, not just for riders but for sellers and manufacturers too. You can even find fake helmets being sold right outside CRRI." Parida also pointed to a deeper cultural issue. "There's still a lack of awareness, especially among the youth," he said. "Mainstream films and advertisements often glamorise unsafe riding. That needs to change. Just like we now add warnings to smoking ads, we must push for responsible portrayal of road safety too." Rajiv Kapur, managing director, Steelbird Hi-Tech, didn't mince words. "Delhi-NCR is flooded with fake helmets. Some of these are even sold by licensed outlets. They are cheap and manufactured with zero regard for safety standards. Making a good helmet isn't easy — it involves engineering, materials, testing. This sale of fake helmets must be stopped." Echoing the call for action, Mitra Sen Verma, director, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), urged citizens to take part in the solution. "If you spot a fake helmet, report it. We act on every complaint we receive," she assured. Meanwhile, Amit Bharadwaj of NITI Aayog urged a broader view of road safety data. "Back in 2010, India had just around 17,000km of national highways. Today, that's gone up to over 1.4 lakh km, with 50 lakh km of rural roads. The number of vehicles, especially two-wheelers, has similarly surged," said Bharadwaj. "So while absolute fatality numbers may seem high, they should be seen in proportion to the rapid expansion in road length and vehicle population." Design innovations or tech use can also play a role in mitigating the situation, said Bharadwaj. "Most two-wheelers don't have space to store helmets, which discourages regular use. Built-in storage can be part of the solution. But this isn't a one-department job. Engineering, manufacturing, education, enforcement all need to align. A whole-of-govt approach is necessary," he said. But Maharaj Singh, consultant, Union road transport and highways ministry, pointed out that the problem still circled back to one necessity: enforcement. "As long as fake helmets are being sold on footpaths without consequence, this crisis will continue. We must stop it at the source," he emphasised. There were also calls for innovation. Dr Mohammed Asheel, a WHO officer dealing with injury and rehabilitation, suggested linking helmets to the vehicle's start mechanism using Internet of Things. "We need to shift mindsets. Helmet use cannot be negotiable. If technology can enforce it, we should use it." Affordability, too, found a place in the discussion. Ideas like reducing GST on helmets, bringing them under the purview of corporate social responsibility or distributing them for free in vulnerable communities were floated as practical, immediate interventions.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Time of India
Death trap disguised as safety gear: Close to 70% of helmets sold in capital are fake
New Delhi: Across the capital, it's a familiar sight: helmets, many times non-certified ones, hanging from the handlebars, stuffed into storage compartments or balanced on heads with unfastened straps. It's only when riders spot a uniform in the distance that the helmets are pulled out. But this could be too late and too loose. Between Jan and April, as many as 1,89,015 challans were issued and 62,863 notices were issued for violations caught by cameras. Fatal accidents in Delhi involving two-wheelers surged from 441 in 2020 to 611 in 2024. These issues, once seen as minor infractions, were brought to the forefront at the National Summit on Road Safety, in collaboration with TRAX and CRRI, supported by helmet company Steelbird, on Thursday. At the event, two helmets — one BIS-certified, manufactured by a private company, and another a counterfeit headwear — were subjected to a series of impact, durability, and retention tests by a reputed private manufacturer. The result was telling. The certified helmet retained its shape and withstood all pressure tests. The fake one crumpled almost immediately, and its protective core shattered. The takeaway couldn't be clearer: a fake helmet is a death trap disguised as safety gear. Experts at the summit were unanimous: helmets save lives but only when they're authentic and worn correctly. So why is the problem so persistent? Prof Manoranjan Parida, director, CSIR-CRRI, speculating why people don't wear a helmet or wear the wrong types, said, "Over 70% of helmets sold in the city are fake. Enforcement must be strict, not just for riders but for sellers and manufacturers too. You can even find fake helmets being sold right outside CRRI. " Parida also pointed to a deeper cultural issue. "There's still a lack of awareness, especially among the youth," he said. "Mainstream films and advertisements often glamorise unsafe riding. That needs to change. Just like we now add warnings to smoking ads, we must push for responsible portrayal of road safety too." Rajiv Kapur, managing director, Steelbird Hi-Tech, didn't mince words. "Delhi-NCR is flooded with fake helmets. Some of these are even sold by licensed outlets. They are cheap and manufactured with zero regard for safety standards. Making a good helmet isn't easy — it involves engineering, materials, testing. This sale of fake helmets must be stopped." Echoing the call for action, Mitra Sen Verma, director, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), urged citizens to take part in the solution. "If you spot a fake helmet, report it. We act on every complaint we receive," she assured. Meanwhile, Amit Bharadwaj of NITI Aayog urged a broader view of road safety data. "Back in 2010, India had just around 17,000km of national highways. Today, that's gone up to over 1.4 lakh km, with 50 lakh km of rural roads. The number of vehicles, especially two-wheelers, has similarly surged," said Bharadwaj. "So while absolute fatality numbers may seem high, they should be seen in proportion to the rapid expansion in road length and vehicle population. " Design innovations or tech use can also play a role in mitigating the situation, said Bharadwaj. "Most two-wheelers don't have space to store helmets, which discourages regular use. Built-in storage can be part of the solution. But this isn't a one-department job. Engineering, manufacturing, education, enforcement all need to align. A whole-of-govt approach is necessary," he said. But Maharaj Singh, consultant, Union road transport and highways ministry, pointed out that the problem still circled back to one necessity: enforcement. "As long as fake helmets are being sold on footpaths without consequence, this crisis will continue. We must stop it at the source," he emphasised. There were also calls for innovation. Dr Mohammed Asheel, a WHO officer dealing with injury and rehabilitation, suggested linking helmets to the vehicle's start mechanism using Internet of Things. "We need to shift mindsets. Helmet use cannot be negotiable. If technology can enforce it, we should use it." Affordability, too, found a place in the discussion. Ideas like reducing GST on helmets, bringing them under the purview of corporate social responsibility or distributing them for free in vulnerable communities were floated as practical, immediate interventions. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Govt's focus should be on zero road fatalities: Minister Ajay Tamta
The issue of road safety is very important, and the government's focus should be on working towards zero road fatalities , Minister of State for Highways Ajay Tamta said on Thursday. Addressing the National Summit on VRUs & Road Safety , Tamta said the government should work on ideas to reduce road fatalities. Also speaking at the event, UN Special Envoy for Road Safety Jen Todt called road crashes a silent pandemic and emphasized the urgent need to protect vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Citing over 154,000 road fatalities in India in 2021, he stressed that while not every crash is avoidable, many are and those who die are often young people, daily commuters, and sole breadwinners. A key highlight of the event was the launch of ' Road Safety Paathshaala ', a road safety module developed by TRAX for children aged 8 to 13 years.
