Bangalore Roads & Transport

A checklist for decongesting our roads

For a city like Bengaluru with a very high literacy rate, it should not be a problem to bring in some order and civic sense into our roads, says a concerned citizen.
By Ramamurthy M S

Is it difficult for citizens who are so articulate, so cultured and so well informed on conditions abroad to help evolve a traffic flow system and ensure the woes of commuters? The solution could be planned in several layers.
Top on the list is synchoronised signal lights, adjusted to a moderate speed level. Moderate, because all kinds of vehicles ply on our roads and some of them may not touch the speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour.
Heavy vehicles, cargo laden trucks and the like must be barred entry in arterial roads. If this is not possible, they must be allowed to ply only during early morning or late night hours. Also, our city was not meant to be a megacity. So these vehicles could be conveniently stopped at the outskirts and only those carrying a lesser load may be allowed.
We shall not be cruel to the ones who ply their trade with muscle power. But the question is, whether our compassion should extend that far, allowing a bullock cart to block free flow on busy thoroughfares in the name of humanism?
Already some agencies are at work alerting citizens and commuters on traffic bottlenecks. Is it difficult to rope in a 24-hour news channel to assist this effort? All that needs to be done is to market the concept as a carbon credit proposition. Imagine how much fuel could be saved if diversions are suggested and updates are provided on road blocks as and when they occur?
It is disgusting to hear and see incidents of ambulances held up in traffic jams. The very purpose is defeated. A concerted effort is the need of the hour, and for the ones who cannot use public transport, a pooling system may be set up with the help of voluntary agencies. This could also be extended to regular office-goers, with regular timings.⊕
Ramamurthy M S
04 Dec 2008

Ramamurthy M S is a journalist and columnist and occasional blogger.
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