BIG IDEAS FOR BANGALORE 2 ROADS

BIG IDEAS FOR BANGALORE 2 ROADS
Decongesting our roads
The woeful inadequacy of infrastructure in Bangalore is a cause of deep worry for its residents
Balakrishna Hegde

Bangalore’s traffic problems cannot be wished away with a single formula. But let’s look at some solutions.
Short-term
Blockages happen due to non-synchronisation of signals and lack of lane discipline among vehicle users. Traffic wardens or even private security personnel can ensure lane discipline. Launch massive awareness campaigns. Ensure drivers of public transport vehicles mandatorily attend a crash course in traffic rules. Two-wheeler riders too should go through this.
Training should include clippings of accidents which will create an impact. Funding is not a major issue since most MNCs will be willing to participate in such projects. Such an exercise can be tested for about three months, after which errant drivers can be penalised.
Signal cycles: All over the world, signal time cycles are shorter, not exceeding 60-90 seconds. In Bangalore, these sometimes touch 200 seconds for every change! This blocks several intersections simultaneously. Short signal cycles will clear traffic faster since density of traffic closer to the signal is always higher and more vehicles pass the signal in the first few seconds than later.
Coordinate signals: Back-to-back signals at close proximity should be coordinated and must be quick at both places to avoid traffic pile-up. The press button system for pedestrians helps reduce signal cycles. The green signal comes alive when pedestrians press a button on the signal pole and the signal is programmed in such a way that there is a gap of 90-120 seconds between two pedestrian green signals.
Signals on one-ways: One-ways should have few signals, but on the contrary there has been a steep increase in Bangalore. Long signals at night can be reduced to shorter cycles. Drivers get restless at a red signal if there are hardly any vehicles from opposite directions, causing them to jump the signal. Shorter cycles will not only encourage people to follow signals but also reduce danger and accidents. Synchronise signals wherever possible.
Auto lanes: The city is plagued by ‘auto lanes’. In many cases, auto lanes suddenly appear just as one crosses a signal e.g. as you turn right from M G Road at Queen’s Statue, you are faced with the auto lane which leads to a lot of vehicles criss-crossing and hindering free movement. The auto lanes may be discontinued as they are causing irregular traffic movement.
One-ways: While one-ways have helped in some areas, they have caused problems in many other areas (Koramangala, Malleswaram, etc). One-ways should not be resorted to unless there are two parallel roads within 200 metres and they also have proper link roads. A related issue is reversal of one-ways. For example, this can be done on Midford Road near Trinity Circle which has no entry from Richmond Road towards M G Road, while traffic flow is higher in this direction than the reverse direction i.e. M G Road to Richmond Road.
Extreme left lane: The other problem is that the extreme left lane is hardly used. Either vehicles are parked or there is debris or the surface is rough. This problem can be solved if uneven surfaces around signals are set right, debris is cleared, strictly ensure ‘no parking’ regulations and unnecessary road humps are removed.
Road dividers/barricades: Movable metal police barricades are an eyesore. On many roads, these barricades are placed without any indication, raising the risk of accidents.
Medium-term
Shift bus-shelters situated close to signals and create bus bays. It’s possible to move most bus-shelters beyond the edge of the road either by requesting the government or institutions or at least narrowing the footpath.
Increase penalty: Penalties should be increased and punishments such as licence cancellation for repeat offences should be followed. The very thought of fines should bring discipline.
Long-term
International laning system, with separate lanes about 300 metres before a signal, which will facilitate vehicles turning in those directions without blocking smooth passage of vehicles behind. Major sewerage nalas can be converted into roads to provide short links between two points with support from corporates. This move will also save Bangalore from the dirty stench from open nalas.
Augment police force and salary structures of the police force and RTO to eradicate corruption. Empower traffic wardens to book offenders.
READERS WRITE
Widen roads at all costs
Politicians, bureaucrats and even the people don’t have the will to improve the roads, although they have enough time and money to use the roads and enjoy the ride from the comfort of their vehicles. To reduce traffic jams and road blocks, we must have enough overbridges and subways for pedestrians at each main junction. We have enough IT experts: they should come up solutions to improve traffic signals. Roads must be widened at any cost. Building/ land-owners must cooperate or the courts should intervene. Agnihotri Osur, VIA E-MAIL
Ministers should stay at home or travel in helicopters
The government should run medium-sized buses instead of large buses within the city. It won’t block the whole road since we have very few wide roads. Avoid oneways: it makes vehicles remain on road for a longer period of time. All roads in Bangalore should be resurfaced. This will improve vehicle movement, resulting in lesser congestion. A good drainage system will prevent water-clogging. Flyovers should be well-designed and companies should encourage employees to work from home and the government should facilitate easy availability of broadband services. This will keep professionals off the road. Remove illegal roadside constructions and widen roads. Ministers should either stay at home or travel in helicopters. Vizeet, VIA E-MAIL
(The writer is president, Karnataka
Ownership Apartment Promoters’ Association)

The keyword to describe Bangalore’s traffic is ‘pathetic’. The sheer volume of vehicles on the roads will surely lead to chaos. The lack of efficient public transport, bad traffic sense, nonavailability of traffic personnel at critical junctions add to the ever-growing public despair. While the long-term solution for Bangalore’s traffic woes is the Metro Rail and building sufficient arterial roads, in the shortterm, we should look at ‘intelligent traffic management systems’, where traffic is regulated based on its density. Proactive systems that inform commuters about traffic jams must be set up. This can be done with dedicated FM channels maintained by the traffic police. Besides this, we can look at measures to discourage use of private vehicles at peak hours in central business district (CBD). This can be achieved by levying a toll rate or high parking fee in CBD areas. Amit Kumar Srivastava, PRESIDENT, JP NAGAR VI PHASE RESIDENT WELFARE
ASSOCIATION


The traffic department must justify the current signal system. The location and duration of any signal has to be based on traffic density. Mapping traffic volumes at peak hour will help in the designing of better signalling systems. A striking feature of Bangalore’s traffic is blatant violations, even by so-called educated citizens. This a serious concern as lack of discipline can cripple even a good system. It’s sad that we still need a policeman to keep watch over us. The government has failed to chalk out a road map. If infrastructure has been painfully inadequate, the traffic system is plagued by shortage of manpower. BBMP has failed to maintain the roads, sidewalks, and has not provided streamlined parking. The government should not shy away from making huge capital investments on infrastructure. The upcoming Devanahalli International Airport is long due, but the road to the airport remains a mirage. Isn’t it easier to build a road than an airport? Samuel Paul, CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC AFFAIRS CENTRE