City police plans easy traffic, mulls ban on new high rises

City police plans easy traffic, mulls ban on new high rises
BY AMBARISH B.
BENGALURU


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The city police will soon submit a set of proposals to the government on improving traffic conditions in Bengaluru. One of its suggestions is to ban the construction of commercial complexes and residential apartments in the central business district.
“The feasibility of banning construction of additional commercial spaces and residential apartments in a 5 km radius of Vidhana Soudha could be examined. The high rise buildings here are already a problem. We are also recommending that guidelines issued by the traffic police should be considered when giving a no objection certificate for construction of such high rise buildings in future,” city police commissioner Shankar M. Bidari said on Friday Measures to decongest the roads were discussed recently at various meetings held by the police and will now be submitted to the government for its consideration.

The proposals include improvement of the railway stations at Bellandur, Whitefield, Chikkabanavara, Kengeri and Yelahanka, to help commuters who stay in their vicinity and establishment of satellite bus stations at Nelamangala, Kanakapura, Hosur, Devanahalli and Kolar road for decongesting roads in the city.

“Commuters who stay in the vicinity of these stations should be able to avoid travelling all the way to the city to board their buses. We can request the BBMP and BDA to identify available corner sites to convert them into taxi and autorickshaw stands and also parking spaces. In the long run, the income from such parking slots will be higher than the income from auctioning these sites,” Mr Bidari said. The city police is also considering bringing out a book, in both Kannada and English, containing information about traffic rules and regulations.

A traffic handbook is also on the cards to educate the public. All drivers, including autorickhaw and taxi drivers, will be given the handbook for their use. A team of experts will also carry out a study on traffic flow once in three months and prepare a status document. The first status document will be prepared by September 30, Mr Bidari said.

The commissioner added that eight to 10 teams of two officials, an ASI or PSI and a police constable would visit schools, other educational institutions and factories to acquaint them with traffic rules. “Members of traffic wardens associations may also be associated with this venture,” he said.