A survey conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) — Comparative Analysis on 'Delhi & NCR Commuters Man/Hour Losses' - revealed that nearly 42 crore man hours are lost every month by about 70 lakh-strong working population of Delhi and NCR, using public transport for commuting between their homes and offices. The reasons for the loss: Traffic congestion and increasing jams during peak morning and evenings hours.

The survey covered working population of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad. Nearly 1,800 commuters said each day around 2.5 hours are lost in reaching their destinations.

Releasing the analysis, ASSOCHAM secretary general D S Rawat wondered if Metro will be able to provide a solution. He said during morning peak hours (which begin at 7 am) office-goers take two to 2.5 hours to reach their places of work through public transport.

The maximum load, the survey reveals, is on Delhi-Gurgaon, south, north, east Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad roads.

In the evening, the peak hours started at 5.00 pm, again taking them two to 2.5 hours to reach their home, rendering them so tired and fatigued that there is hardly any energy left for any other creativity, Rawat said.

As a result of large hours being wasted in commuting, the productivity and creativity element of majority of working population in private as well as government sector is greatly affected and therefore, it is recommended that UP, Delhi and Haryana government should launch mass transport systems on lines of New York, London, Tokyo and Beijing. This will enable 70 lakh workers to keep their creativity and productivity insulated from large hours of travelling, Rawat said.

Rawat said in most of the cases, reaching NCR from Delhi and vice versa, these mass transport systems have to cover 10-30 km to reach one way destination.

The situation worsens further with the presence of over 112 lakh vehicles in Delhi and NCR which causes severe traffic jam in peak hours.

Time lost in commuting
Office-goers from Ghaziabad, Modinagar, Meeurt, Loni, Noida, Greater Noida, east Delhi (Dilshand Garden, Shahdara), Faridabad to places like Gurgaon, north, west Delhi, (Delhi Univ., Patel Nagar, Naraina, Janakpuri etc.), central Delhi (ITO, CP, Pragati Maidan), south Delhi (AIIMS, Okhla, IIT, Nehru Place etc.)

2.5 hrs to 45 minutes daily in one way

Office-goers from north & west Delhi, Gurgaon, Haryana, Mehrauli, central Delhi, south Delhi to places viz. Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Dadri, Meeurt, Noida & Greater Noida, Faridabad, east Delhi.