Going out? Check your vehicle No.

Going out? Check your vehicle No.
Chandrashekar G | TNN

Bangalore: Imagine the city without choked roads. This could actually happen if the government okays the “alternate day system’’ proposal put forward by the traffic police.
A senior police officer exp l a i n e d how the s y s t e m c o u l d w o rk : “Bang alore’s traffic cops p ro p o s e to implement a rule which will allow vehicles ending with odd and even registration numbers, respectively, to ply on alternate days. This means a vehicle owner takes out his/her vehicle on alternate days. The idea is to reduce vehicle volume on roads by at least 30 per cent. Government and public transport system vehicles could be exempted.’’
Apart from providing a reprieve to road users, the new system could reduce pollution and promote extensive use of public transport. How it would apply to autorickshaws is to be worked out, the police officer said. Over 1,00,000 autos ply every day accounting for 4% of the traffic. “If the rule is implemented, 50% of the autos would remain off roads. City roads would be pleasant to ride on, like on Friday during auto strike,’’ the officer said.
Traffic officials forwarded the proposal to the state government and the transport department a fortnight ago. A high level committee headed by both the chief secretary and additional chief secretary have discussed the pros and cons of the proposal. It is likely to take a final decision at its meeting next month, the officer said.
But some hitches relating to registration and outstation vehicles have to be cleared before making the system operational. The system has been working well in some European countries, the officer said.
“If the government gives its nod, the project could be implemented within 10 days,’’ the officer added. Police moot idea to tackle traffic snarls TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore: The traffic police in Bangalore have forwarded a proposal to allow vehicles that end with even registration numbers on particular days and the oddnumber ones on other days into the central business areas of the city to reduce traffic congestion.
Expert speak
Traffic Engineers’ Safety Trainers chairman M N Sreehari said the alternate day system could prove a failure in Bangalore.
“The transport system in Bangalore is very poor. The public would be put to major hardship with the implementation of the system in the absence of adequate mass transport or alternate transport system. Any new system has to be practically implemented after analysing the advantages and drawbacks.’’
Times view
The proposal to decongest Bangalore by allowing either cars with odd or even number plates on a particular day is well-intentioned, but hard to implement. The traffic administration will create further chaos if it were to put this proposal into effect. This idea is best implemented through voluntary effort. Bangalore’s traffic snarls will ease if fewer citizens were to hit the road in their automobiles. A particular number-plate pattern will allow only some people to take out their own cars on a given day; the rest should accompany them through a system of car pooling. The energy efficiency of each car will increase. However, the only long-term solution to Bangalore’s traffic travails is to improve the efficiency and coverage of all forms of public transport, be it buses or Metro Rail.