One-way the only way

One-way the only way
Bangalore has become a ‘one-way’ city — over 260 roads have been declared one-ways, resulting in high fuel bills and more pollution. But with over 25 lakh vehicles crowding city roads every day, only one-ways can keep the traffic moving, DCP Traffic (East) M.A. Saleem tells Azmath.
The Times of India

You have converted around 70 roads into one-ways in the last year. Critics say the city police have become fond of one-ways.
We are not fond of oneways, they are the need of the hour. Over 700 vehicles are being registered every day, and road widening and other infrastructure projects are in the pipeline. Under these circumstances, police can play a limited role. We are not the infrastructure providing agency, we are here to decongest roads within the available space and resources. Now we are using the last option: making roads one-way. But the city’s experience with one-ways has not been bitter.

Can you name successful one-way projects?
J.C. Road, which was made a one-way in the 1990s. Can anybody imagine two-way traffic on J.C. Road now? Hudson Circle, the city’s nerve centre, and Ulsoor are the latest examples. Now, one-way rule on Residency and Richmond Roads is being appreciated.

How do you justify crisscrossing of vehicles on the flyover, which has prompted setting up a signal system, a concept unheard of ?
The Richmond Circle flyover was under-utilised till we made it two-way. Traffic jams were regular on the flyover ramp leading towards Bangalore Club during school hours, and there were snarls near Bishop Cotton Boys’ High School. Criss-crossing on the flyover is not that bad. We are not completely satisfied with it, but it has helped decongest the roads below. We are consulting experts.

Riders, car owners, schoolchildren, their parents and police are happy. But what about the BMTC commuter who has to walk long distances to bus stops?
We have requested BMTC authorities to relocate bus stops so the commuter is subjected to lesser inconvenience. One-way rule is actually aimed at helping BMTC commuters — buses move faster and journey time comes down. If this happens, those using two-wheelers and cars will switch over to buses, and ultimately help decongest roads.

One-ways have disturbed quiet localities like Convent Road, Hayes Road and small lanes in Victoria Layout.
These roads are located in central Bangalore, and were one-ways earlier too. Now we have reversed the rule, and in fact, the reversal has helped residents.

Are more roads going to become one-ways?
Roads are made one-ways after much research and consultation with experts. Initially, a road is made one-way on experimental basis. On getting feedback, we make necessary changes. Space on roads is limited, and we are trying to find solutions in the form of one-ways.

In the DOCK

Name: M.A. Saleem
Date of birth: June 25, 1966
Educational qualifications: M.Com, Bangalore University; Masters in Police Management, Osmania University, Hyderabad
Address: DCP, Traffic (East) office, Infantry Road. Bangalore-1
A native of Bangalore, hailing from Chikkabanavara village near Hesaraghatta, Saleem graduated from Al-Ameen College and obtained his Masters degree in Commerce from the Central College and joined the IPS in 1993.
He has worked as Additional SP of Gulbarga, Kodagu and Shimoga. Later, he became DCP (Law & Order) Mysore, and SP of Udupi and Hassan districts before coming to Bangalore as DCP (East) in 2002. In July 2003, he was made DCP, Traffic (East).
As Udupi district police chief, he started three helplines for the aged, women and children. ‘Aasare’ is the helpline for the aged.
During his 18-month tenure in Bangalore, he has converted around 70 roads into one-ways.

VERDICT ACQUITTED

V. Ravichandar, former BATF member.

The police are just one of the players involved in the traffic maze. Since they are invariably at the scene of the ‘crime’, most citizens hold them culpable. The police have to work within the constraints of the system, be it increasing vehicle population, limited space and poor condition of roads, insufficient manpower or inter-agency coordination.

They are damned if they do, damned if they don’t! Someone has to bite the bullet and the traffic police have done well to stand up and be counted. The solutions are not necessarily perfect but DCP Saleem has always let it be known that he is open to making changes based on feedback. Any oneway solution will require some affected citizens to sacrifice a bit for the larger public good.