Save Garden City: Lost in transit

Save Garden City: Lost in transit


Pics by Nagaraja Gadekal, Ajilal, Suresh Nampoothiri and Vinod Karimatt.
Rakshita AdhyanthayaFirst Published : 23 Jun 2009 04:01:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 23 Jun 2009 12:34:16 PM IST
Bangalore roads
Bangalore city has a vehicle population of 34,77,707. These vehicles are plying on streets that are narrow and broken and some with very little scope for expansion. All the roads in Bangalore are operating above their capacity and the volume is almost five times the capacity. This has led to a steep downfall on the travel speed which has dropped to 15 kmph during peak hours. Is it any wonder then that road rage too is on the rise? Rapid population growth because of IT and other associated industries in Bangalore has led to an increase in the vehicular population to about 1.5 million, with an annual growth rate of 7-10 per cent. According to a survey by the Traffic police, personalised modes of transport have grown at a tremendous rate and two wheelers along with the cars almost comprise 90 per cent of the total registered vehicular population in the city. As the vehicle numbers are shooting up, for Bangaloreans it is a daily scramble for the last remaining parking slot.
Road dividers
Another new feature implemented in the recent past are the road dividers.
The RCC cast-in-situ medians in 65 roads for approximate length of 32 km are being planted.
Traffic experts added that these are most unscientific road dividers. Srihari says, “Bangalore has very narrow roads and such a huge median eats up into the space and also hinders the traffic movement.
During rains, these do not allow the water to move and at many places, the vehicles ram on to them due to poor vision and water collection.
More than 90 per cent of the speed breakers are also unscientific, which contributes to a number of accidents.” About 2,834 accidents were reported in the first five months of this year, claiming 295 lives and injuring 2,356 people. The police have already collected about Rs 12.78 crore this year from the traffic violators, which would be used in the development projects.
Traffic signals
As a part of the five-year B-TRAC programmes, a number of traffic signals were erected recently.
About 400 traffic signals are present in Bangalore today. Talking to Express, Traffic Expert MN Srihari said, “Erecting traffic signals is a good idea, but signals at an interval of one km is not a solution.
Under BTRAC projects, the fund for these traffic signals were released and it has been utilised in a very inefficient manner. Today, the vehicles from one signal continue till the next one adding to the street chaos.” Bangalore witnessed about 550 VIP movements in 2008 alone. Traffic police say, “This is the most difficult part, as we have to stop vehicles for about two hours. Most of the police personnel are deployed for VIP duty.
This affects our other work. ”
Magic boxes halt traffic
The efforts of the BBMP to ease traffic flow on the Bangalore International Airport road have gone in vain. Thanks to the BBMP’s innovative magic boxes using pre-cast elements which have led to the traffic congestions and piling up of traffic.
Though, the concept of magic boxes is appreciated as they are low-cost and time-saving initiatives but its implementation has been done in an unscientific manner.
The consequences of which are borne by the road users, especially those taking the New Airport Road. The Cauvery junction magic box is the apt example. Traffic jams are common here, all due to the messy way the magic box here functions.
Common violations
The most common violation is jumping of traffic signals. Followed by wrong parking, using mobile phones while driving, riding bikes without helmet, drunken and dangerous driving. The bushes in front of the traffic signals are the favourite hiding spots for the city traffic police, who fine the violators.
A Cubbon Park traffic personnel said, “Many youths drive rashly when we try to stop them, injuring us and at times injuring themselves too.” There are about four interceptors which record the incident and the video can be used to levy the fine. An Inspector, under the condition of anonymity, put it as it is. “Every police personnel has a target to meet every week. They have to pay a sum to their seniors, and for doing this they hide in smaller lanes,” he revealed.
Drag Racers
At a time when most of the Bangaloreans are winding up their day, a number of youths in Bangalore between the age group of 17 to 25 indulge in dragracing.
Police take extra rounds late at night and the common stretches have seen a number of traffic signals popping up. A traffic personnel said, “Today we have orders and the freedom to take any extreme step to stop a person from driving dangerously. We can even fire at them to stop them, as their driving could be dangerous to other road users as well.” Twenty-two-year-old Amir, who is a drag racer said, “We understand it’s dangerous, but doing stunts on bike is not easy. We have no other place to go. Instead of stopping us, the government should encourage us with a place dedicated for such street stunts, like Chennai.”