Prepare for more one-ways

'Traffic management is an evolutionary process…'

Pay-and-park is gone… Parallel parking is in... There is a free left here... That road is one-way from the other side now... No matter what, some are pleased, others aren't. Every other day the headlines seem to be evoking a different reaction. Traffic management in Bangalore is an unenviable job, and in the hot seat is K V R Tagore, Inspector General and Additional Commissioner (Traffic and Security) of Police. He shares some of his plans to bring the situation under control

The Times of India

Why are the city's one-ways changing so often? What is the logic?
It is an evolutionary process. With an ever-increasing number in vehicles, changes are needed. We are not making changes unless a proper study has been conducted by traffic engineers. These are autonomous consultants. We discuss it with those well-versed in the area, commuters, and residents. We change the system only if a need for it is felt after hearing them. We have study reports with us and plans are being implemented in phases. Change is a must depending on volume of traffic and availability of space. In 1976 there were one lakh vehicles on the roads. The capacity of the roads then was seven lakhs. While the capacity remains the same seven lakhs even today, the number of vehicles on the roads has increased to 21 lakhs. Another five lakhs from outside pass through. There are 700 new vehicles every day.

Does that mean frequent change in future too?
We are devising and changing one-ways depending on the necessity. Soon, the one-way on the stretch from SBI-St Marks Road junction to Ashirvadham Circle will be reversed. Traffic will move from Ashirvadham Circle to St Marks Road. This is due to the heavy load cascading from Central Silk Board junction leading to jams at Brigade Road junction. Also, St Mark's Road will become one-way from SBI junction till Anil Kumble Circle. The existing one-way from Cash Pharmacy till SBI junction will be reversed. Traffic can now go from SBI junction to Cash Pharmacy junction enroute to Richmond Town and beyond. These moves to disperse traffic efficiently will save around two-thirds the petrol and half the time now spent in commuting through these stretches. Richmond Circle will be taken up in the next phase. Vehicles should remain on the roads for shorter durations between destinations. That's the idea.

Do you have a long-term plan for traffic management?
People need to use individual vehicles only for emergencies and occasionally. Mass transport is the answer. We are starting a drive to get large organisations where around 500 two-wheelers and 200 cars are parked in the campuses to provide employees with a mass transport facility. They can have their own busses or lease some from BMTC. Good air-conditioned busses will be comfortable for the employees, reduce pollution, and entail less number of vehicles on the roads.

Is the rate of accidents rising with the number of vehicles increasing?
No, it is not so. In 1997, the number of dead/injured in the city was 7,341. In 2004 the figure was 7,824. Now, in 1997 the number of vehicles was 11 lakhs. In 2004 the number was 21 lakhs. There are 74 one-ways in the city today and a decrease in accidents on some of them is proof that they are effective. In 2003, there were 19 deaths on 11 roads that were accident-prone. In 2004, there were nine. The number of injured in accidents on these 11 roads was 121 in 2003 and it fell to 64 in 2004. We have a special patrolling system on the Outer Ring Road. A drive against four major offences is on there - rash driving, over speeding, drunken driving, and parking on that road.

High stress levels is leading to road rage. As part of traffic management are you doing anything about it?
We have started training our staff to tackle it. It is also a law and order issue. You may have seen policemen from the law and order section too helping in traffic control. These days it is a joint effort.

Changed one-ways

One-way from SBI-St Marks Road junction to Ashirvadham Circle will be reversed
The one-way from Cash Pharmacy to SBI junction will be reversed.

New one-way

St Mark's Road will become one-way from SBI junction till Anil Kumble Circle. Vehicles coming from Ashirvadham Circle and Lavelle Road can turn towards Anil Kumble circle. Vehicles cannot enter St Mark’s Road from Anil Kumble Circle.