Traffic management key to avoid chaos

Traffic management key to avoid chaos

Staff Reporter
Focus on capacity creation, signal-free roads and boost to public transport
Plan favours increasing number of BMTC buses

Recommends impact taxation on high traffic sources

BANGALORE: The draft of Plan Bengaluru 2020 has it all — from signal-free traffic on the 10 arterial roads between the city centre and outer ring roads (ORR) to making the ORR themselves signal-free, hassle-free airport connectivity, promoting public transport, techno-intelligent traffic management and parking enforcement — towards creating a better environment for a quality life.

These crucial issues had hitherto been ignored by the authorities concerned as a result of which Bangalore sees traffic chaos, denying the common man freedom of movement. If Plan 2020 on Road, Traffic Management and Transportation is implemented in its spirit, Bangaloreans may get freedom of movement, further fuelling the economic growth.

Public transport
A substantial push is required to increase the share of public transport from the present 35 per cent to 60 per cent is required, the Plan says, while recommending increase in the number of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses to 11,000 and provision for ample parking at all Metro Stations.

Pedestrian safety should be priority as over 44 per cent road accidents involve pedestrians.

Big arterial roads
Junction elimination and widening of the big 10 roads — Tumkur, Hosur, Bannerghatta, Kanakapura, Mysore, Bellary, Magadi, Sarjapur, Old Madras Road and HAL Airport — till ORR will ensure smooth flow of traffic. Bus bays and footpaths should be made mandatory on these roads besides offering priority bus lanes.

From ORR to suburban towns, these roads must be made signal-free and six-lane with median provision for mass rapid transit system.

Stating that single access to BIA via Bellary Road is congestion-prone and flawed, Plan 2020 says access from the West (from Tumkur Road to Bellary Road) and East (from Hoskote via Budhigere Road) to BIA should be augmented. Rail connectivity to BIA should be explored by using the existing Chickballapur line and running shuttle services at regular intervals from major railway stations.

The Plan also recommends impact taxation on high traffic sources, commercial as well as housing while asking large employers to promote public transport and maintain traffic footprint indexing measures.