Tackle traffic tangle on priority basis

Tackle traffic tangle on priority basis
The Times of India

Question of the week
Along with the Metro Rail, what other projects should be taken up simultaneously to ease Bangalore’s traffic problems?

Ensure adequate driver training and revamp licensing procedure; Mark roads better so that there are clear zones for two-wheelers, etc. so that the traffic moves smoothly and Electronic surveillance of vehicles with severe penalties for offenders.
Harry D’Costa, Whitefield, Bangalore

Comprehensive aerial and land survey to identify potential obstacles before executing mega projects and avoid delay. Make car-pooling mandatory and encourage double-decker buses. Set up an urban development board over infrastructure development to reputed firms with defect-liability deposit to tackle delays in project execution.
R. Gururao, BSK II Stage, Bangalore

Two-wheelers and autorickshaws with their highly indisciplined ways and utter disregard for traffic rules contribute to the chaos. Car-pooling and introduction of share-a-taxi schemes will help ease the congestion. Ban autorickshaws from the heart of city and allow them to ply only in the suburbs. All this only after improving the city bus service. Widening of roads may be considered, only if this does not entail cutting down of trees that line the roads.
Usha G. Rao, BSK III Stage, Bangalore

Road widening is the top priority; no parking on all roads, parking facility in all building basements and multi-storeyed facilities elsewhere. Strictly enforce traffic rules; remove all road humps and shift bus-stops away from signal lights. Ban pushcarts and animal carts from the main roads and ban hawkers from footpaths.
M.N. Kesari, Vijaynagar, Bangalore

Initiate underground parking projects so that they’ll free up space on the roads.
Shiva Kumar, Nimbur

Have metro roads which can handle HTV traffic. A committee should identify and build overbridges which will ease the congestion at intersections. Check the cost and time overruns for flyover constructions. Have more parks and public entertainment areas so that driving through these areas will not be so tedious.
Manav Gautam, Koramangala

Have an integrated plan. Plan more ring roads and parking areas. Vehicle tax rebates for those using car pools. Ways to reduce traffic should factor in reduction of global warming.
P.T. Shankaranarayanan, HAL II Stage, Bangalore

Flyovers are needed faster than they can be put up; widen roads; maintain roads with zero potholes; discourage hawkers and construct underpasses and overbridges at intersections where possible. Use smaller vans instead of big buses on narrow roads.
Syed Mahamood, Sultanpalya, Bangalore

Extension of metro line from Inner Ring Road to Nayandanahalli for passengers from Mysore. Similarly at Yelahanka and Bangalore East. Provision of adequate storage yards at metro stations. Simultaneously, work on underground pedestrian crossings.
S. Sundara, R.R. Nagar. Bangalore

Schools and colleges should have vehicles for their students; timings of schools and colleges should be changed so that they don’t clash with office timings; vehicles older than 25 years should be phased out; lorries must be allowed into the city only during the night.
Vimala Kesari, Vijaynagar, Bangalore
Flyovers in densely populated areas; build grade separators and underpasses for pedestrians. Have sidewalks for pedestrians on both sides and ban hawkers.
B.G. Dasanna, Rajajinagar, Bangalore

Have a ring-rail system, improve public road transport, provide bicycle lanes and introduce skybuses. Have multi-storeyed pay & park systems; shift autorickshaws to the peripheral areas. Ban vehicles more than 15 years old and implement Euro II and III norms. Enforce pass system for intra- and inter-city vehicle movement; slap toll on all vehicles entering Bangalore. Develop satellite townships with better facilities to decongest the metro.
K. Chandrashekar, Kuvempunagar, Bangalore

Run electric suburban trains and these locals could run hourly from Bangalore City to Whitefield.
V. Ramaswamy, Sreepuram, Bangalore

Complete all planned flyovers and ring roads as per schedule. Construct more pedestrian flyovers in densely populated areas. Introduce more multi-storeyed parking system as well as roof-top parking. Develop mini model layouts with space for civic amenities. Crack down on unauthorised constructions. Convert high-density roads to oneways and traffic police should have more powers to book cases. Introduces more buses on ring roads and acquire land for road widening.
Jagadish Kalmath, Yelahanka, Bangalore

Introduce more BMTC buses and students should travel only by them.
B.R. Subrahmanya, Mysore

What we need is lane consciousness, buses parking at the sides (not in the middle of the road), autorickshaws eliminated from several busy roads and the latest satellite-tracking systems.
S. Swaminathan, recd via email

We need more flyovers. Road lanes need to be marked for BMTC buses, autorickshaws, two-wheelers and cars. More buses need to be introduced to cover all areas. People should use public transport more rather than using their own vehicles and for this the quality of the public transport should be enhanced. Better roads are also needed badly.
K. Chidanand Kumar, recd via email

Depute traffic police personnel at all junctions; taxis, autorickshaws and private buses should not stop and park at no parking/ no stopping zones; don’t allow entry of trucks between 8 am and 8 pm into the city; all repair work and garbage collection should be done either in the early morning or late night; all traffic signals should be synchronised ; try to clear traffic at all junctions; all pending work of flyovers and underpasses should be cleared on a war footing; surprise checking by higher authorities at all junctions and try to ensure that VIP movement doesn’t disrupt traffic flow.
Ravi K. Suri, recd via email

EXPERTSPEAK

Implement mass transportation on a priority basis. Though short-term measures like oneways, grade separators and underpasses can give immediate and temporary relief, certain policy decisions must be taken. Widen narrow roads particularly in the heart of the city. Prohibit road-side parking as buildings should have their own parking lots. Construct peripheral roads, more ring roads, connecting and using existing rail corridors with Electric Multiple Units.
M.N. Sreehari, Traffic Advisor