The phenomenal growth of vehicular traffic in Bangalore City has resulted in traffic congestion, high level of air and noise pollution, longer journey time and increase in accidents on roads. The growths of vehicles are largely due to economic prosperity coupled with easy availability of vehicles. But there has been no commensurate growth in road networks and road infrastructure. The resulting scenario is that there are too many vehicles on road occupying a limited space.
Another dimension for huge growth of vehicles in a short time is transformational nature of our society. Purchase of vehicles is more due to aspirations and ambitions of people rather than need and necessity. It is estimated that Bangalore is likely to have 13 million vehicles at the end of 2030. Some of the significant factors responsible for traffic congestions in Bangalore are;
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- Rising demand for travel due to increase in population and other activities;
- Concentration of land use in certain areas such as central business districts and office areas;
- Mixed nature of traffic;
- Inadequate facilities segregating slow traffic;
- Insufficient road space;
- Inadequate width of pedestrian sidewalks and their encroachment by hawkers;
- Inadequate facilities to meet the heavy demand for parking requirements;
- Lack of road sense and indiscipline on the part of road users;
- Ineffective enforcement measures;
- Inadequate funds to meet the increasing demand for essential improvements.
In order to overcome the traffic problems in Bangalore city, the following traffic management solutions are suggested:
- Encouragement to public transport:
Mass transport system generally helps in transporting huge number of people from one destination to another without occupying too much road space. Good and affordable public transport system such as Commuter Train, Metro, Mono rail and bus transport are more sustainable form of transit mechanism. It reduces personalized mode of transport, making roads congestion free and pollution level will also be under check. In order to evolve good public transport system, investments in Metro and public transport buses should be made in a big way. The fare of public transport buses and Metro should be heavily subsidized to encourage people to shift from private vehicles to public transport.
- Development of Road Infrastructure:
Since purchase of vehicles by citizens is more due to aspirations and ambition factor rather than need or necessity, vehicles will continue to grow in years to come. Therefore, there is a need to develop good road infrastructure with adequate capacity to sustain high volume of traffic. Existing capacity of the roads can be increased by developing longer flyovers like the 9 km flyover on Hosur road in Bangalore City. Signal free corridors to avoid junction conflicts can be taken up to reduce journey time and traffic congestions. Regular maintenance of roads with good street furniture helps in reducing accidents and enhancing safety on roads.
- Encouragement to non-motorized transport:
Non Motorized transport like cycling should be encouraged for short trips. With increasing urban sprawl and rising income levels, non-motorized transport has lost its earlier importance. However, non-motorized modes are environmentally friendly and have to be given their due share in the transport system of a city.
- Pedestrian Facilities:
Pedestrians form a major proportion of commuters (about 25% to 30%). Though they are short distance travelers, they are spread all over the city. As facilities furnished for them are encroached upon by vendors or for road space, they have to spill on roads. These contribute to accidents also. Good and adequate footpath helps in encouraging people to walk for longer distance and leaving behind their vehicles at home.
- Introduction of staggered working timing for officers and educational institutions:
Staggering of working hours of offices and educational institutions result in spread over of peak hour. Presently, the peak hour starts at around 9.00 and ends at around 11.00 in the morning and starts at 5.00 in the evening up to 7.30 p.m. Staggering of office and school timings will have a positive impact as traffic can be reduced during the above peak timings. Safe route to school project, initiated by the Bangalore Traffic Police, has largely helped in reducing traffic congestion as school starts before 9.00 a.m. Similarly, many IT industries have staggered their work schedules to suit smooth journey from residence to place of work. Similar staggering of office timing of State Government and Central Government departments may result in reducing traffic congestion during the traditional peaking timings.
- Development of parking infrastructure:
Land is valuable in all urban areas. Parking places occupy large portions of such land. This fact should be recognized in determining the principles for allocation of parking space.
Levy of high parking fee, that truly represents the value of the land occupied, should be used as a means to make the use of public transport more attractive. Preferences in the allocation of parking space for public transport vehicles and non-motorized modes as well as easier access of work places to and from such spaces would go a long way in encouraging the use of sustainable transport systems. Park and ride facilities for bicycle users, with convenient interchange, would be another useful measure. Apart from this parking infrastructure in the form of multi-level car facilities should be developed in all commercial areas.
- Adopting Carpooling System:
Carpooling to go to workplace is very common in western countries. Adopting carpooling system is very essential to reduce single occupancy vehicles especially on high employee concentrated areas like IT industries.
- Greater emphasis on educating road-users:
Road users must be explained about the traffic rules and regulations through different media like press, posters, pamphlets, slides in theatres, banners etc. If possible, the road users should be educated about the traffic rules and regulations by conducting awareness camps in which safety of road users should be taught. Habitual and repeated offenders should be made to undergo training sessions in the traffic training institutes established by the Traffic Police.
Conclusion:
The above strategic traffic management options may be adopted by the civic agencies to substantially achieve traffic decongestion in Bengaluru city. While some recommendations can be implemented in the short term some require a long term perspective. If implemented systematically, these sustainable measures will go a long way in making Bangalore city more liveable.