Metro rail may reduce road accidents in city

Metro rail may reduce road accidents in city

The Hindu

Traffic planners say it may also reduce traffic congestion on roads

# Bangalore has an accident rate of 130 for one lakh population
# City accounts for an average of 10,000 accidents a year and close to 900 deaths

Bangalore: With the State Government firmly committed to implementing the metro rail project, one positive fallout the city police look forward is decrease in the number of vehicles and consequently less number of accidents on roads.

Bangalore, with 23 lakh vehicles on the roads, has an accident rate of 130 for a one lakh population, compared with 56 in Chennai, 175 in Mumbai and 65 in Delhi. Of course, the city also has the highest vehicle density of 37,571 per one lakh population.

A study of road accidents compiled by the city police reveals that cars, taxis and jeeps account for the largest number of vehicles involved in road accidents, closely followed by two-wheelers. Vans, tempos and maxi cabs come next, followed by buses and trucks. Autorickshaws come next on the accident list.

The city accounts for an average of 10,000 accidents a year (according to figures compiled since 2000) and close to 900 deaths. The accident rate has gone up in proportion to the increased number of vehicles, the police admit.

Mass rapid transit systems such as the metro rail may not become the only public transport option, but can considerably reduce congestion on the roads, traffic planners point out.

Traffic decongestion

In a recent presentation made by K.N. Srivastava, Managing Director, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, traffic decongestion in terms of new buses and private vehicles added to the city's vehicle population can be significant. From the first year of its operation, metro rail can carry up to 8.7 lakh passengers a day. This can be compared to the number of cars, two wheelers or buses that can transport the same number of people.

Two wheelers (close to 15 lakh) already account for the largest type of private vehicles in Bangalore.

In its initial phase itself, the metro rail, as planned, will cover some of the most crowded locations in the city.