BIG IDEAS FOR BANGALORE

BIG IDEAS FOR BANGALORE
EXECUTION IS everything
Over the past several weeks, we’ve carried several suggestions by experts. We summarized them and forwarded them to stakeholders for their response

INTELLIGENT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
1. Study traffic patterns to devise intelligent traffic management alternatives — to give right of way to peak-hour traffic in a particular direction. This will ensure that traffic flows are managed with differential times on traffic lights
2. Synchronized traffic signals based on traffic flows. 3. Traffic lights should never be switched off.
4. Availability of police personnel on all roads
5. Enlist help from local communities/ industrial areas for traffic management
6. All over the world, signal time cycles are shorter than it is in Bangalore. Long cycles block 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. Shorter cycles also encourage people to follow signals and reduce danger of accidents.
7. One-ways should have few signals, but this is not the case in Bangalore.
8. Installation of cameras across the city with a common command centre to ensure that offences are recorded and punished.
INCREASE PENALTIES FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
Strengthen enforcement of traffic rules. Penalties should be increased and punishments such as licence cancellation for repeat offences should be followed. The very thought of fines should bring discipline. Traffic fines in developed countries work because of 100% enforcement, and also because the financial burden of a fine could run into thousands of rupees. Mumbai has also shown that a zero tolerance approach to traffic offences works.
Data of traffic offenders must be shared with insurance firms and offenders must be made to pay higher premiums. Integrate databases of vehicles and drivers so that repeat traffic offenders can be booked.
RATIONAL 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.
EXTREME LEFT LANE
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, and ‘no parking’ regulations are strictly enforced.
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.
INTERNATIONAL LANING SYSTEM
Separate left and right lanes about 300 metres before a signal, which will facilitate vehicles turning in those directions without blocking smooth passage of vehicles behind.
AUGMENT AND TRAIN POLICE FORCE
1. Increase the strength and salary structures of the
police force and RTO to eradicate corruption. 2. Empower traffic wardens to book offenders. 3. The traffic constable who seems to be lost and helpless should undergo a training programme in traffic management. A solution could be outsourcing
the training and certification of our traffic officers
to organizations from cities with world class capabilities in this field. POLICE RESPOND
Aprivate agency has already been engaged to survey traffic. Hour-wise traffic movement, vehicle numbers and traffic corridors are being studied. Its results and recommendations can be implemented once the major corridors of the city are covered under traffic synchronizing systems. The stretch between Manipal Centre and GPO Circle has already been synchronized and the trial is currently under way in another traffic corridor in Rajajinagar.
The idea of allowing peak hour traffic in a particular direction is welcome, but the city roads do not support such initiatives. In the long run, lanes can be converted to carry outgoing or incoming traffic depending on the rush.
This apart, the city police will soon have a master control command where in the city traffic can be managed from one point.
At present, traffic lights cannot be operated round the clock. We cannot hold up traffic unnecessarily during late night hours when traffic is low. However, busy junctions in city are covered with round-the-clock traffic lights, while the rest of the signals will be on through the night.
Signals on one-ways are not a must. However, depending on traffic movement on the particular one-way where there are schools and commercial establishments, signals can be erected.
The extreme left side of the road is hardly used. Efforts are being made to clear the unwanted accumulation of parked vehicles by putting up cones to distribute traffic on either side of the roads.
This apart, the movable metal barricades are highlighted using glittering stickers on them to avoid accidents.
Though the violation amount has been raised, commuters continue to violate rules. Even the cancellation of driving licences has not yielded results. If you cancel the licence, the offender will get a fresh one from some other RTO. Until all the RTOs are computerized, it’s difficult to bring in strict measures.
SEEMANTH KUMAR SINGH |
DCP East for Traffic
IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES
1. Improved quality and frequency of buses, increasing buses at peak hours when demand is the greatest 2. Integrate rapid transit system, railway system, bus system and public parking to reduce load on roads 3. BMTC drivers often stop in the middle of the roads and create traffic blocks. Train them not to do so. 4. Cleaner public buses with better seats, lesser engine noise, with power steering for better throughput. 5. Toll-free number for feedback on BMTC drivers. BMTC RESPONDS
We already have a call centre (12667) where people can register complaints and suggestions. We receive many calls every day and we act on them. We have records to prove it. I even receive calls on my mobile and at office and I respond to them too. We not only act, but we also get back to citizens and inform them of action taken. We even have an e-mail address (cmtobmtc@infor.com) for feedback. The BMTC already has peak hour buses. But we plan to introduce 500 exclusive peak hour buses over the next three months. They will ply between 7.30 am and 11.30 am and 4 pm and 8.30 pm. They’ll have a distinct colour, comfortable seats and limited passenger intake. These will be Suvarna Karnataka buses.
“We are running seven inspection teams all over the city. They look into violations by drivers, whether doors of buses are closed as rules demand, whether women find seats and whether buses are on time. Penalties and fines have been imposed on erring drivers. We’re doing our best so that bus-stops are comfortable and safe. Some measures have been taken to ensure that they are located appropriately.
DASTAGIR SHARIEF |
BMTC chief traffic manager
HIGH PARKING FEES IN CBD
Discourage use of private vehicles, especially at peak hours in Central Business District (CBD). This can be achieved by levying a toll or high parking fee in CBD areas.
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
1. Allocate space for parking and build multi-level parking facilities at identified locations based on traffic volumes study 2. Run buses on a merry-go-round basis
from parking lots around CBD to reduce
vehicles on roads
3. Arterial roads should be kept free of
parked vehicles.
BBMP RESPONDS
The BBMP has been mulling introduction of parking fee in Bangalore, including the Central Business District. Following a hue and cry raised by the public about illegal parking fee collection in some parts of the Bangalore, pay-and-park system was scrapped in April 2005. One option BBMP has is to levy high parking fee and a fool-proof mechanism to regulate and control parking system to inculcate traffic sense among vehicle users. The introduction of heavy parking fee discourages unnecessary use of vehicles. Pay-and-park will be introduced from April 1
BBMP has identified certain roads for metered and manual parking. Already metered parking is successful at Brigade Road and Commercial Street.
BBMP has been planning multi-level parking along the Metro track to encourage public to park their vehicles before taking the Metro. However, automated multilevel parking infrastructure is costly. Police have to enforce the ban on parking on arterial roads to encourage them to use parking lots.
Bus-shelters are being identified jointly by BBMP, BMTC and traffic cops. Bus shelters would be shifted based on traffic needs.
B S RAMPRASAD |
BBMP special commissioner (administration)
INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE
The Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) has been set up to coordinate all transport programmes in the Bangalore metropolitan region. But it has very little technical capacity to carry out its responsibility. Bureaucrats cannot solve things themselves. They have to partner with other city stakeholders, like in the case of London’s integrated transport authority, which includes a diverse mix of politicians, bureaucrats, union representatives, market players and social activists.
We need a public-private initiative to help solve the immediate problems, but in a manner that works with and strengthens BMLTA in the long run. The PPP may be called Bangalore Traffic and Transport Initiative (BTTI), to function in close coordination with BMLTA. BTTI should be a fully empowered body, chaired at the most senior level in government, and bring in concerned and competent voices from the outside: industry, NGO, technical experts and so on. It must set milestones and report progress on projects to the public every month.
BMLTA RESPONDS
Bangalore is the first city in the country to have an integrated transport authority in the Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA). Isn’t it a very commendable step? I think it’s a great exercise in trying out integrated transport. Work is going on well. Transport management issues are very complex and all aspects have to be explored before decisions are taken. The state government is alive to all of them.
GAURAV GUPTA |
BMLTA convenor
STAGGERED TIMINGS
1. School and college timings to be between 8 am and 3.30 pm so that there’s no clash with office timings 2. Offices to start by 9 am so that traffic on account of government employees doesn’t mix with this movement.
EDUCATION DEPT RESPONDS
We are thinking on those lines. Consultations with appropriate people are going on and following that we will take a decision. Traffic police have requested us to have early school timings to help in addressing peak hour traffic. We are considering that. But I have to take a comprehensive view of the matter taking into confidence schools, teachers, children and only then can we decide on timings. I cannot comment on whether this will help address peak hour traffic problems, because I am worried about my children.
DELHI
Minimum fine for violations like jumping red lights: Rs 600 Parking charge: Rs 10 for 6 hours for cars on all arterial roads where parking is allowed
MUMBAI
Minimum fine for violations: Rs 100. But Mumbai DCP (traffic) Harish Baijal says a proposal is with the state government to sharply increase this. Baijal thinks the minimum fine should be Rs 1,000. Parking charge: Rs 30 a day. On many roads it is between Rs 5 to Rs 20 an hour
BANGALORE
Minimum fine for violations: Rs 100 Parking charge: Nil
DEVELOPMENT OF ROADS
1. Complete diversion roads already sanctioned for the diversion of HTV. 2. Complete NICE road connecting Hosur Road to Tumkur Road. 3. Complete the peripheral road linking industrial areas to allow easy access to and from the location (Tumkur Road; Bellary Road; Whitefield Industrial Area; Hosur Road) 4. Create inner ring road over major drains with drop-off points. 5. Broaden main traffic corridors as done in Hyderabad to speed up traffic. KUMAR NAIK | Commissioner, public instruction