traffic

Traffic in City

It is a routine exercise in recent months for us engaging ourselves with protracted discussions on the problems that this ever growing city is facing with regards to its infrastructure especially the city roads. Many people and agencies who has a stake in the city are often putting their ideas to the Government and its effectiveness after implementation. Recently, a leading news paper had one such discussion under the caption Unlock Bangalore. Despite all this one feels that much of these thoughts are more in paper than in action.
Take for example the new Airport, where every body is keen on opening its gates as early as possible. But, no single agency or person connected with the same is insistent that it should happen only proper connectivity is provided from the city. This is not to talk of expressway or the Metro which is still in nascent stage. Atleast proper road to reach the place in a reasonable time. For every project tobe successful public participation is necessary. In this case the public have to bear the brunt of inconvenience to reach the Airport. The BMTC has plans to introduce dedicated buses from different points in the city with further plans to have call taxi / Auto for the people to reach halting points of these buses. In the existing road connectivity there is every doubt if any of these buses reach the airport in less than 2 hours. Take for example the route from JP nagar 6 Phase. In this route the bus has to clear three traffic signals to reach Jayanagar 4th Block which is at a distance of about 4 kms and the time taken will be not less than 15 to 20 mts. From then on, it has to cross seven signals to come to Corporation junction which needs another clean 30 minutes as it has to steer through a busy route negotiating with other vehicles on the road. Its further route is also not smooth sailing. Alternate road maps suggested by the police recently are meant for users of Taxi and own cars.
This apart consider the plight of everyday commuters on the city roads. Lakhs of people are using public transport to reach their work place or for other works. No road is clear which includes suppossedly subsidiary business centres like Koramangala, Indiranagar, Jayanagar and other places. The elevated roads, the underpasses, the one ways which has been created in many places are nothing but sqeezing the existing capacity and not more. The vehicles once cleared up through these places are bottled up at next junctions. All these are attributed to bad planning or no planning all these years. We have reached a point of nowhere. We have many successful stories in many cities in South America which are similar to Bangalore where it is managed without Metro or other sophisticated transport but with public transport through dedicated lanes, creating awareness to the public the benefits of using the same and also sufficient room on the road for walkers and for cyclists. Perhaps many of our civic officials must have also studied the projects and made reports. Bangalore had the ample opportunity to have a circular railway using the existing line. Nobody gave a worthwhile thought to make this a reality.
To the present chaos, there are some remedies which may look out of the box. Though, these seems tobe of short term it may bring in long term benefits over the period. Despite the existing 33 lakhs or more vehicles which are choking the city roads we cannot bring a blanket ban on the entry of new vehicles. It is an easy remark that public cooperation is necessary. There is no second thought on this point. But who cares for them. The Law makers and its implementors are blind eyed which helps bending of laws very easily. Two wheelers running on footpath, jumping of signals are common phenomenon. Zebra crossing is boldly painted on the roads. Even at automated signals people have to think twice to cross the road as drivers try to scare them by raising the engines of their vehicles. The city roads can breathe to some extent if the Government uses its will power to ban all private vehicles atleast once in a week. This should also apply to Autos. This would encourage people to use public transport on these days which saves fuel apart from good contribution for the environment.
Further, every Government official which includes the top bureaucrats should compulsorily utilise the public transport shunning the dedicated vehicles meant for them. Initially, for one month they should ply in city buses by purchasing tickets. This will give them first hand experience of an ordinary commuter. Subsequently, they should travel atleast for 20 days in a month in ' city buses only' for their official work or otherwise. Now, every top official from certain grades are provided with individual Official vehicle. This would also give them earthy ideas to implement. It is not uncommon to see many of the government vehicles are used for non-official purposes also which includes utilising the same by their family members. With that much government vehicles off the road there will be a drastic improvement of city roads which will also help government save money on precious 'black gold'. This rules should be applicable to all government officers including Central undertakings.
'Charity begins at Home' says an adage. Likewise, the BMTC executives should come forward voluntarily to make use of public transport as of other passengers which help them understand the problems the public face every day. Their sitting in offices and making rules will not solve the problem. Using advanced technology like GPS and other technologies will sure help improvement but basic structure should be experienced and corrected if needed. Shortage of buses during the lean hours, crowd during peak hours, jumping of stops are common phenomenon which can be addressed with their onhand experience. Top officials using public transport will be a morale booster to their staff which can be motivating for better service. This will encourage other public who are using their own transport to make a beeline into city buses. This should invariably applicable to our elected representatives also who are eager to serve the people. All this will help lessening the burden on the city roads to a large extent. . A Government institution like transport, school or hospital can perform better only when its own top people use them as ordinary people. Such attempts will give a confidence to the public to utilise the system better.