Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday expressed deep grief over the death of a minor in a road accident in the Shalimar Bagh area, attributing the tragedy to illegal encroachments that have hindered traffic movement.
The Chief Minister said that had there been no encroachments along the roadside, traffic would have flowed more smoothly, reducing the likelihood of such accidents and the resulting loss of life and property.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, police said that two minors riding a motorcycle were passing through an area where illegal encroachments had been made along a drain and the roadside. A tempo coming from behind allegedly hit the motorcycle, leading to the death of one minor on the spot.
Gupta conveyed her condolences to the family of the deceased, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar in Haiderpur, and stated that the accident could have been avoided in the absence of such encroachments.
She also pointed out that a similar incident had occurred around two months ago, when a five-year-old girl lost her life after being hit by a speeding dumper in the same locality, highlighting ongoing concerns over traffic management.
Referring to recent legal developments, the Chief Minister said the Delhi High Court has issued directions for the removal of illegal encroachments in the area, including more than 140 unauthorised units along Road No. 320.
Gupta stated that these encroachments were established on government land during the tenure of the previous administration and have long obstructed traffic movement, causing inconvenience to residents and commuters.
She noted that the area experiences heavy traffic due to the presence of major hospitals, educational institutions, and police establishments. While an underpass has been constructed to ease congestion—allowing traffic from Azadpur to connect directly to the Outer Ring Road near Mukarba Chowk—the benefits have been limited due to persistent encroachments.
The Chief Minister added that the Delhi government had approached the High Court on the issue, leading to the directive for removal of illegal constructions. She expressed confidence that once these encroachments are cleared, traffic flow in North Delhi will improve significantly.