Traffic woes? Try this recipe

Traffic woes? Try this recipe

Bidari Lines Up Slew Of Measures, Will Submit To Government

TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Bangalore: Commercial establishments that have floor space exceeding 10,000 sq feet will soon come under police scrutiny for deviation of parking space. The police, along with BBMP, will inspect highrises to check whether approved space is used for parking alone.
This was one of the suggestions police commissioner Shankar M Bidari made on Friday to improve the traffic situation. Two DCPs and additional commissioner of police (traffic) Praveen Sood have been asked to give opinions on the suggestions, that Bidari will forward to the government.
Another suggestion made by the police is a ban on construction of any more commercial or residential buildings in the central business district (CBD) — 5 km radius around Vidhana Soudha. Traffic police have been advised to frame guidelines in this regard.
The BDA and BBMP will be asked to identify corner sites that are yet to be auctioned. They will be converted into auto/taxi stands or even parking slots for the area.
Besides, the government will be requested to improve railway stations at Bellandur, Whitefield, Chikkabanavara, Kengeri and Yelahanka, so that trains can stop there for passengers’ convenience. The police also suggested more satellite bus stands on Bangalore-Nelamangala, Bangalore-Mysore, Bangalore-Kanakapura, Bangalore-Hosur, Bangalore-Devanahalli and Bangalore-Kolar highways so that those living on the outskirts need not travel into the city.
Also in the pipeline is a proposal to acquire excess government land for parking and truck terminals. Roads that can be widened without much difficulty are being identified.
Once traffic officials lay out opinions, Bidari will finalize proposals and submit them to the government for approval.
WAY OUT OF MESS
Inspecting apartments for proper use of parking space Ban on construction in CBD Convert corner sites into parking lots, auto/taxi stands Improve peripheral railway stations for convenience Build truck terminals More satellite bus stands
THE GRIDLOCK
Total road length is 4,500 km. Number of intersections is 40,000. There are 167 signalised intersections and 600 manned intersections. Every day, over 1,000 policemen are required to be deployed at over 1,000 intersections. Almost all roads handling more traffic than capacity. Volume ratio is 1:2, 1:3 or 1:5. Travel speed has dropped from 15 km/hr in 2005 to 10 km/hour in 2007 during peak hours. 100 per cent increase in bus fleet during the past 10 years. In 1997, there were 1,921 buses, which has increased to 4,835 in 2007. The B-Trac project was launched in 2006-07 to improve situation. Rs 44 crore was released that year, followed by Rs 35 crore in 2007-08. For 2008-09, action plan sent by home department to planning department for Rs 25 crore.