BIG IDEAS FOR BANGALORE – 10 | TRANSPORTATION

BIG IDEAS FOR BANGALORE – 10 | TRANSPORTATION
Integrated seamless solution needed
V Madhu feels a multi-pronged strategy is needed to address the city’s needs


Karnataka has proposed many projects to make transportation seamless, painless
Ideally, Bangalore city should have had a mass rapid transport system i.e., Metro Rail, at least a decade ago. We have now, in right earnest, started the work on positioning the 33 km of Metro Rail from Byappanahalli to Mysore Road (18.1 km) and from Yeshwantpur to RV Road Terminal (14.9 km). The project will be commissioned by December 2011.
The city needs an integrated seamless transport solution. This means there should be a physical integration of various modes of transport viz, Metro Rail, Mono-Rail, bus rapid transport system, inter-city and intracity bus systems, commuter rail and longdistance rail.
The city’s traffic woes can be resolved by adopting the following strategy
a) Widen the existing roads (short-term solution)
b) Put in place an integrated transport system, consisting of Metro Rail, Mono Rail, bus rapid transport system, other bus systems and railways, within a time frame.
c) Restriction on entry of personal vehicles to CBD areas (using tax / parking fee measures).
d) Provision of cycle/pedestrian space on roads.
There is a substantial limitation to road widening in view of intense developments that have come up by the side of roads. But there are opportunities to widen / smoothen roads in various parts of the city to make traffic movement easier.
The Comprehensive Traffic & Transport Study (CTTS), commissioned by the Karnataka government, has proposed certain extensions of the present Metro Rail project: New Metro Rails from Yeshwantpur Railway Station to Peripheral Ring Road via Nagawara to Electronic City, another Metro Rail from Indiranagar to Whitefield via 100-feet Indiranagar Road and the one proposed to the Devanahalli Airport from MG Road via Bellary Road. The other forms of mass rapid transport system proposed are: Mono-Rail of about 60 km from south of Bangalore through to the west and to the north connecting Metro Rail corridor at various places on Mysore Road, Magadi Road and Yeshwantpur. A commuter rail corridor of 204 km and bus rapid corridor of 265 km. This is in addition to the formation of a number of roads around Bangalore City.
The proposal is to undertake the project in three phases — from 2007 to 2024 — with substantial activity happening before 2018.
The planning of the above systems and their connectivity have to be synchronized and integrated. It has been proposed to integrate Metro Rail in Byapanahalli, in Swastik, in Majestic, in Peenya, in Yeshwantpur and in Banashankari with other forms of transport, like bus system and Mono Rail wherever they exist. In addition, there would be exchange facilities from existing mode to Metro Rail in all the 32 stations. There will also be integration with the Railways in Byappanahalli, Majestic and Yeshwantpur, making travel seamless. This integration would have two components — one, the physical integration of various systems as already stated by establishing easy access and interchange. Further, introduction of tickets / smart cards that are usable in any of these systems irrespective of the fare.
The implementation of these projects calls for a lot of coordination, for which the government has already constituted the Land Transport Authority. The positioning of Metro Rail, Mono-Rail and rapid transport system of the type envisaged would require acquisition of a lot of private properties, use of public properties, pruning or removal of a number of trees (that have endeared our hearts), construction of underpasses, over-bridges, elevated corridors, etc. All these would mean a lot of disturbance on the road while being taken up. The citizens of Bangalore have, so far, been cooperating largely, though there are a few who have opposed the same. A litigation-free, supportive atmosphere need to emerge as the implementation of these projects requires boundless positive energies.
(V Madhu is MD, Bangalore
Metro Rail Corporation Limited)
FEEDBACK
Readers respond to last week’s BIG IDEA
Mini ring routes
Start smaller ring route bus services and shared auto services. Most people roam around in their localities in the vicinity of their houses and they don’t use buses or any public transport. People have to depend on autos or private vehicles. If BMTC starts mini bus ring route services in both directions along local routes, it will minimize traffic. | Vasanth R, via e-mail
Regular pollution checks
One of the best ways to reduce pollution is for the authorities to conduct regular monthly pollution check on vehicles and impose a penalty on non-compliant owners. Getting a pollution check every three months must be made mandatory. The authorities should be very strict in enforcing this regulation with an iron hand. | Sanjeev Routray, via e-mail EXPERTSPEAK

Population explosion, increase in vehicles and inadequate road network have all contributed to the traffic problem. Ad hoc measures are often adopted by the authorities but will not help solve the problems. ’s required is an integrated, welldesigned approach on many fronts. Some measures needed on a war footing are: Metro Rail, followed by additional networks through nodal areas; Extension of the present North-South and East-West corridors. Connecting these by several peripheral networks, compulsory provision of the networks in developing areas; Widening of important roads. Some residents will be inconvenienced, but in the larger interest, they may have to bear the brunt; Elevated roads over existing busy roads. There are several radial roads, which need elevated roads to decongest the rush. C S Vishwanatha | CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TORSTEEL REASEARCH FOUNDATION IN INDIA


While Bangalore needs more new roads, the following measures for existing roads will help: Redesign of intersections for smooth and free left turns will cut waiting time tremendously. During rush hour, traffic police often switch off traffic lights and manage the intersection manually. It always has the opposite effect of increasing waiting time; All roads must have dividers wherever possible; Supervised paid parking should be reintroduced on more roads; Commercial vehicles are often parked on busy roads in no-parking zones blocking half the road. This slows down traffic dangerously. Traffic police should patrol busy roads regularly and tow away such vehicles; Bus-stops should have a side bay to accommodate up to three buses so as not to obstruct the traffic flow; Apartment complexes should have mandatory visitors parking. Large complexes should also provide parking for school buses to pick up and drop their children. Schools and colleges should provide space in the campus for cars and buses to pick up and drop their students. Binod K Bhartia | MD, ABV ENGINEERS AND CONSULTANTS