In a meeting with Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, officials from the Public Works Department, the MCD and the Delhi Police on Friday, Pental made a presentation elaborating on traffic issues on campus and also suggested means that could possibly resolve them.

An important issue raised was the traffic coming from areas around the campus and difficulties faced by students, who mostly move around the campus on foot.

One of the solutions offered was the diversion of traffic along the Najafgarh drain.

Pental told Newsline: “The university campus is meant for the students. Work on the traffic situation should have begun a long time ago and more roads should have been built in the area as it sees a lot of pedestrians. At present, it is very difficult for the students to walk on the roads because of the increase in vehicular traffic.”

One of the solutions put forward by Pental included making the road that connects the Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station and the Law faculty one-way, as it often gets clogged because of traffic movement and rickshaws around the Metro station.

The suggestion that underpasses be constructed to connect the Science and Commerce blocks with the Arts faculty was also put forward.

The proposals presented aim to reduce traffic on two major roads in North Campus — the road that runs between the Law Faculty and Vice Chancellor’s Office and the road that runs between Miranda House and Khalsa College.

Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said: “University campuses all over the world have traffic restrictions. We also have international students coming to the university every year. We understand the vice-chancellor’s vision and reasons and the plan put forward by him can be implemented.”

While Pental has suggested that only vehicles belonging to faculty members and disabled students be allowed on campus, Mehta said suggestions for allowing battery-operated vans or buses to ferry students within campus were also put forward. “Since DU will also be hosting a couple of Commonwealth Games events next year, short-term plans like street-scaping and traffic management can be implemented with the help of the Delhi Police. Long-term plans like covering the Najafgarh drain and re-directing traffic may take time as there are a number of agencies involved for clearances and finances,” Mehta said.