Traffic police are coping with no-way signs

Traffic police are coping with no-way signs

The Times of India

Bangalore: Bangalore is fast turning into a city of one-ways. Traffic jams, longer routes and routine checks by the police are a few of the hassles motorists face every day.

While negligent driving claims thousands of lives, an ever-increasing vehicle population (currently 21 lakh) forces an overburdened Bangalore City Traffic Police to resort to one-ways.

Revved up

From 9.5 lakh in 1996, vehicles have doubled, over 70 per cent of it twowheelers. According to statistics with the traffic police, as on September 30, 2004, the number of vehicles was 20,95,571. Nearly 600 vehicles are being added onto roads every day. According to RTO statistics, over 14,000 cars were registered in the last three months.

Ideally, the 41,000 kilometres of road can accommodate around eight lakh vehicles.

Which way

In the last 30 years, 294 roads in the city have been made one-ways. In 2004 alone, 74 roads including Richmond Road, Residency Road, Cunningham Road, Queens Road and Raj Bhavan Road followed suit. Most motorists prefer travelling longer distances to driving bumper to bumper.

“One solution for decongesting busy stretches is to convert highdensity roads into one-ways,’’ the police maintain, adding that infrastructure measures like flyovers and roadwidening do not come under its purview.

Though traffic experts say a comprehensive approach is needed, police maintain that the one-way system has reduced accidents.

Diverting duty

Short of personnel , the force is overburdened with duties like traffic regulation, enforcement and VVIP security daily. Of the sanctioned 1,871 posts, there are 285 vacancies in the force. Since 1996, though vehicles have spawned and duties multiplied, the force’s strength has been increased by barely 200.

While the traffic police have been recently vested with more powers to book cases, weak punitive measures do not deter motorists from violating rules. Home Guards and traffic wardens apart from private security guards have been assisting the force.

Enforcement tools

Last year, the force has procured 33 alcometers, 30 simputers and set up six automation centres. Automated signal lights, some of them vehicle actuated, too have been set up.

Laser-based speed vision gadgets have helped police check speeding and they have booked nearly 6,000 cases in 2004. Apart from acquiring expertise for detailed studies on traffic mana g e m e n t , the force has taken up intensive d r ive s against violators, specially drunken driving after the chief minister recently asked the police to be merciless with traffic violators. The traffic police have partnered with Bangalore Agenda Task Force, Bangalore City Corporation, educational institutions and NGOs to improve infrastructure and create awareness.

THE ROAD AHEAD

More one-ways and restrictions on movement of certain vehicles like autorickshaws and private buses are on the anvil. This is apart from widening of 34 roads. The focus, however, will be on safety of school children. More BMTC buses will be used to ferry students.
Apart from recruiting additional personnel, the police will set up 23 more automated enforcement centres. The centres will receive information on violations and send computerised challans by post to the offender.

Cameras will be installed at junctions to deter motorists from violating rules.