Not an end, but the beginning

Not an end, but the beginning
Unlock Bangalore Got Us Talking About The Traffic Problem. It’s Time To Act On The Solutions
Sujit John | TNN


We asked you to flood us with your suggestions. And you did just that. From the moment we announced the Unlock Bangalore campaign on March 18, mail poured into our inboxes — day after day. Mail venting anger and frustration with our callous and ineffective traffic management and administrative system. Mail pointing fingers at ourselves, our indisciplined driving, our civic irresponsibilities and our inaction in the face of crises on the roads. But most of all, mail offering concrete suggestions on how to get a grip on the problems plaguing this once-beautiful city.
We also had city planners like Madhav G Badami, A Ravindra and H R Viswanath, politicians like S Suresh Kumar, bureaucrats like S Subramanya, V Madhu and Upendra Tripathy, and former traffic super cops like Kiran Bedi expressing views on how to decongest Bangalore and tame its chaotic traffic. We had a particularly enlivening discussion when we brought together five eminent Bangaloreans — former state chief minister S M Krishna, Lok Ayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, Deccan Aviation chairman G R Gopinath, Janaagraha founder Ramesh Ramanathan, and Lead India initiative winner R K Misra — and almost every senior bureaucrat associated with the city’s development on a single platform to understand the challenges.
The panelists were unanimous on the point that the city’s traffic problems are too big for politicians and bureaucrats alone to solve. As Ramanathan said, it is critical to create a system to involve citizens in finding solutions. This was also the refrain among most like Usha G Rao who said, “Involve citizens in decision making — they are the ones who face most problems.”
Kiran Bedi attributed all traffic congestion to the absence of effective coordinated planning, execution and enforcement. A Ravindra said Bangalore needs a unified planning organization, comprising elected representatives and experts, to plan for the metropolitan region and monitor the implementation of all infrastructure projects and traffic issues.
Tough policing
Bedi also said tough policing was one of the key elements in enforcement and bringing discipline on the roads. “And we must begin with the high and mighty without fear or favour,” she said.
Agreeing with that were TOI readers Robin and Anthea Roberts, who have moved to Bangalore from the UK: “What keeps drivers on the straight and narrow in the UK is the dire consequences to your pocket and licence if you’re caught breaking the law.”
In fact, this message came through again and again from readers, and if Bangalore’s traffic chief Praveen Sood is reading this, he should take note. Jagadesh Kalmath, M N Kesari, G Padmanabhan, Tarun K Jain and many others said the simplest way to bring some order into our indisciplined traffic and rash driving is to strengthen the hands of policemen. All of them said the police should order violaters to cough up heavy penalties, and in case of non-payment, they should seize the driving licence and the vehicle.
Promote public transport
Many underscored the need for a good public transport system that would encourage people to set aside their cars and two-wheelers to commute, as also car-pooling. TOI reader Pradeep noted that 90% of the cars in Bangalore have a lone passenger — “that’s a huge amount of space wasted inside the car and a proportional increase in space occupied by it on the road.” He suggested mandating a minimum of three people in a car. Manjunath says a single-driver car is a crime; and suggested that dedicated NGOs and online carpooling exchange groups should work to increase carpooling.
Former MLA S Suresh Kumar believes choosing public transport over private vehicles is the only solution. He said BMTC should increase the number of master bus stations and mini buses should be used to ferry people from peripheral areas and the centre of the city.
TOI reader K Suresh suggested point-topoint non-stop bus service between selected hubs in the city with adequate parking place at each bus terminus. Umesh Patil and Ravindranathan P V said BMTC buses should be more people friendly and busstops should have boards indicating which buses stop there and their routes.
But as Prof Madhav Badami from Toronto noted, the success of a public transit system also depends on pricing motor vehicle use at a level that will internalize its costs. He said these costs are too low at present and advocates increasing these costs, including imposition of high parking fees, to discourage personal motorized trips.
Badami also said infrastructure for walking and cycling is vitally important. A point that many other readers echoed. Edwin Lewis said the police must take strict action against hawkers occupying footpaths because it inhibits pedestrians. Faiq Gazdhar says cycle lanes and public parking lots for cycles should be mandatory.
Not the end
There were many more suggestions, many more ideas. And we promise to take all of them forward in the days to come, campaign relentlessly to build a better Bangalore. Many, like reader Rakesh Kumar, have requested us to continue our discussions and enlist the participation of both government officials and the public. We will not disappoint you.
TOI’S PICK OF THE TIPS Planning & monitoring body Unified planning organization — comprising elected representatives, representatives of government departments concerned, experts, and citizens — to plan for the metropolitan region and monitor the implementation of all traffic infrastructure projects and other traffic issues.
Improve infrastructure
Widen roads, asphalt them such that they last for a long time Build flyovers on major junctions, especially all along junctions on the ring road Build elevated toll roads, including within the city Build large high-rise parking spaces
Public-private partnership
Such partnerships will help government agencies overcome resource constraints and lack of technical and managerial expertise. Change laws, if necessary, to make such partnerships possible.
Strict enforcement
Strengthen the hands of the police. Train them for effective action
Sharply increase the fines for violation of road rules
In case of non-payment of fines, seize the driving licence and the vehicle
Strictly enforce vehicle licensing norms
Improve public transport
Quicken the pace of construction of the Metro Rail Improve the condition of ordinary BMTC buses and bus stops Sharply increase services during peak office hours on highdensity routes Increase A/C bus services to encourage car users to shift to buses Introduce high parking fees to discourage unnecessary use of personal transport and to push people to use public transport Improve pedestrian infrastructure Ensure good footpaths everywhere. Roads should not be widened at the cost of footpaths Remove hawkers and debris from all footpaths Have skywalks at every major pedestrian crossing