The government is claiming that the proposed steel flyover, that it is determined to build between Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal, is the perfect solution for easing the traffic congestion in the city, notwithstanding the groundswell of resistance to it.
Urban planners and traffic analysts point out that the need of the hour is to find sustainable alternatives to channelise the flow of traffic.
They say that most global cities have prioritised public transport and promoted the concepts of walkability and cyclability in a big way among the public to discourage people from using private vehicles. "People in the city tend to take their vehicles even for short trips. This is because the infrastructure is poor. There are no proper footpaths to walk on while the existing ones are in a bad shape," reasons Ashwin Mahesh, an urban technologist.
He says the government should explore alternative means such as doubling
the existing fleet of BMTC buses and should also create proper cycling and walking paths for people.
"The idea is to distribute the existing human and vehicular traffic and for this, one requires a good mobility plan (which has been adopted in the West). We also require an independent metropolitan planning committee whose only job should be to analyse city planning and chalk out projects to ensure that the infrastructure is at par with the city's growth," says Ashwin. He also feels that the speed of the public projects needs to be increased.
"We must ensure that the speed of these projects is doubled. The highest possible engineering techniques must be adopted. But sadly, the government here favours low quality contractors," he states.
Urban planners, who have been keeping a close watch on the growth of the city, say that it is time to adopt a radical shift in the approach to tackling the traffic situation. Pawan Mulukutla, a programme manager, Integrated Transport at WRI India Sustainable Cities, says the government must think beyond constructing flyovers and widening the roads.
"We must give more thought to increasing the existing fleet of buses and integrating them to the Metro rail, commuter rail and other modes of fast transport. We should have a common mobility card for public transport. Also, some service roads in the city are not used effectively and are more of a parking lot. This must be looked into," says Pawan.
Traffic experts like M N Sreehari believe that the proposed steel flyover will only serve as a temporary measure to contain the city's traffic congestion. "This proposed steel flyover will become useless in a few years time because the city's traffic is growing at a rapid pace. A commuter rail system or a mono rail towards the airport would be an ideal solution because a mono rail can actually carry 15,000 people per hour," says Sreehari. He also states that the alternate roads planned by the government towards the international airport will provide good connectivity, so there isn't really a need for a steel flyover towards the airport.
In addition to finding alternate ways of sustaining the city's growing traffic, people suggest that carpooling must also be considered as a serious option. Srinath S, co-founder and CEO, Spantad Solutions, says, "Carpooling by car owners is not only a cost-effective but a workable plan. We notice that most cars on the road have only one person in it and two cars take the space of a bus.
A car owner takes 30 times more space than a bus commuter on the road. This is the real cause of congestion in the city," observes Srinath. He also feels exploring the realignment of the traffic movement on some of the city's roads would be a good option.
![]( "complex situation A better public transport system and carpooling would help in solving the city's traffic problems.")
The government is claiming that the proposed steel flyover, that it is determined to build between Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal, is the perfect solution for easing the traffic congestion in the city, notwithstanding the groundswell of resistance to it.
Urban planners and traffic analysts point out that the need of the hour is to find sustainable alternatives to channelise the flow of traffic.
They say that most global cities have prioritised public transport and promoted the concepts of walkability and cyclability in a big way among the public to discourage people from using private vehicles. "People in the city tend to take their vehicles even for short trips. This is because the infrastructure is poor. There are no proper footpaths to walk on while the existing ones are in a bad shape,” reasons Ashwin Mahesh, an urban technologist.
He says the government should explore alternative means such as doubling
the existing fleet of BMTC buses and should also create proper cycling and walking paths for people.
"The idea is to distribute the existing human and vehicular traffic and for this, one requires a good mobility plan (which has been adopted in the West). We also require an independent metropolitan planning committee whose only job should be to analyse city planning and chalk out projects to ensure that the infrastructure is at par with the city’s growth,” says Ashwin. He also feels that the speed of the public projects needs to be increased.
"We must ensure that the speed of these projects is doubled. The highest possible engineering techniques must be adopted. But sadly, the government here favours low quality contractors,” he states.
Urban planners, who have been keeping a close watch on the growth of the city, say that it is time to adopt a radical shift in the approach to tackling the traffic situation. Pawan Mulukutla, a programme manager, Integrated Transport at WRI India Sustainable Cities, says the government must think beyond constructing flyovers and widening the roads.
"We must give more thought to increasing the existing fleet of buses and integrating them to the Metro rail, commuter rail and other modes of fast transport. We should have a common mobility card for public transport. Also, some service roads in the city are not used effectively and are more of a parking lot. This must be looked into,” says Pawan.
Traffic experts like M N Sreehari believe that the proposed steel flyover will only serve as a temporary measure to contain the city’s traffic congestion. "This proposed steel flyover will become useless in a few years time because the city’s traffic is growing at a rapid pace. A commuter rail system or a mono rail towards the airport would be an ideal solution because a mono rail can actually carry 15,000 people per hour,” says Sreehari. He also states that the alternate roads planned by the government towards the international airport will provide good connectivity, so there isn’t really a need for a steel flyover towards the airport.
In addition to finding alternate ways of sustaining the city’s growing traffic, people suggest that carpooling must also be considered as a serious option. Srinath S, co-founder and CEO, Spantad Solutions, says, "Carpooling by car owners is not only a cost-effective but a workable plan. We notice that most cars on the road have only one person in it and two cars take the space of a bus.
A car owner takes 30 times more space than a bus commuter on the road. This is the real cause of congestion in the city,” observes Srinath. He also feels exploring the realignment of the traffic movement on some of the city’s roads would be a good option.
Urban planners and traffic analysts point out that the need of the hour is to find sustainable alternatives to channelise the flow of traffic.
They say that most global cities have prioritised public transport and promoted the concepts of walkability and cyclability in a big way among the public to discourage people from using private vehicles. "People in the city tend to take their vehicles even for short trips. This is because the infrastructure is poor. There are no proper footpaths to walk on while the existing ones are in a bad shape," reasons Ashwin Mahesh, an urban technologist.
He says the government should explore alternative means such as doubling
the existing fleet of BMTC buses and should also create proper cycling and walking paths for people.
"The idea is to distribute the existing human and vehicular traffic and for this, one requires a good mobility plan (which has been adopted in the West). We also require an independent metropolitan planning committee whose only job should be to analyse city planning and chalk out projects to ensure that the infrastructure is at par with the city's growth," says Ashwin. He also feels that the speed of the public projects needs to be increased.
"We must ensure that the speed of these projects is doubled. The highest possible engineering techniques must be adopted. But sadly, the government here favours low quality contractors," he states.
Urban planners, who have been keeping a close watch on the growth of the city, say that it is time to adopt a radical shift in the approach to tackling the traffic situation. Pawan Mulukutla, a programme manager, Integrated Transport at WRI India Sustainable Cities, says the government must think beyond constructing flyovers and widening the roads.
"We must give more thought to increasing the existing fleet of buses and integrating them to the Metro rail, commuter rail and other modes of fast transport. We should have a common mobility card for public transport. Also, some service roads in the city are not used effectively and are more of a parking lot. This must be looked into," says Pawan.
Traffic experts like M N Sreehari believe that the proposed steel flyover will only serve as a temporary measure to contain the city's traffic congestion. "This proposed steel flyover will become useless in a few years time because the city's traffic is growing at a rapid pace. A commuter rail system or a mono rail towards the airport would be an ideal solution because a mono rail can actually carry 15,000 people per hour," says Sreehari. He also states that the alternate roads planned by the government towards the international airport will provide good connectivity, so there isn't really a need for a steel flyover towards the airport.
In addition to finding alternate ways of sustaining the city's growing traffic, people suggest that carpooling must also be considered as a serious option. Srinath S, co-founder and CEO, Spantad Solutions, says, "Carpooling by car owners is not only a cost-effective but a workable plan. We notice that most cars on the road have only one person in it and two cars take the space of a bus.
A car owner takes 30 times more space than a bus commuter on the road. This is the real cause of congestion in the city," observes Srinath. He also feels exploring the realignment of the traffic movement on some of the city's roads would be a good option.
The government is claiming that the proposed steel flyover, that it is determined to build between Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal, is the perfect solution for easing the traffic congestion in the city, notwithstanding the groundswell of resistance to it.Urban planners and traffic analysts point out that the need of the hour is to find sustainable alternatives to channelise the flow of traffic.
They say that most global cities have prioritised public transport and promoted the concepts of walkability and cyclability in a big way among the public to discourage people from using private vehicles. "People in the city tend to take their vehicles even for short trips. This is because the infrastructure is poor. There are no proper footpaths to walk on while the existing ones are in a bad shape,” reasons Ashwin Mahesh, an urban technologist.
He says the government should explore alternative means such as doubling
the existing fleet of BMTC buses and should also create proper cycling and walking paths for people.
"The idea is to distribute the existing human and vehicular traffic and for this, one requires a good mobility plan (which has been adopted in the West). We also require an independent metropolitan planning committee whose only job should be to analyse city planning and chalk out projects to ensure that the infrastructure is at par with the city’s growth,” says Ashwin. He also feels that the speed of the public projects needs to be increased.
"We must ensure that the speed of these projects is doubled. The highest possible engineering techniques must be adopted. But sadly, the government here favours low quality contractors,” he states.
Urban planners, who have been keeping a close watch on the growth of the city, say that it is time to adopt a radical shift in the approach to tackling the traffic situation. Pawan Mulukutla, a programme manager, Integrated Transport at WRI India Sustainable Cities, says the government must think beyond constructing flyovers and widening the roads.
"We must give more thought to increasing the existing fleet of buses and integrating them to the Metro rail, commuter rail and other modes of fast transport. We should have a common mobility card for public transport. Also, some service roads in the city are not used effectively and are more of a parking lot. This must be looked into,” says Pawan.
Traffic experts like M N Sreehari believe that the proposed steel flyover will only serve as a temporary measure to contain the city’s traffic congestion. "This proposed steel flyover will become useless in a few years time because the city’s traffic is growing at a rapid pace. A commuter rail system or a mono rail towards the airport would be an ideal solution because a mono rail can actually carry 15,000 people per hour,” says Sreehari. He also states that the alternate roads planned by the government towards the international airport will provide good connectivity, so there isn’t really a need for a steel flyover towards the airport.
In addition to finding alternate ways of sustaining the city’s growing traffic, people suggest that carpooling must also be considered as a serious option. Srinath S, co-founder and CEO, Spantad Solutions, says, "Carpooling by car owners is not only a cost-effective but a workable plan. We notice that most cars on the road have only one person in it and two cars take the space of a bus.
A car owner takes 30 times more space than a bus commuter on the road. This is the real cause of congestion in the city,” observes Srinath. He also feels exploring the realignment of the traffic movement on some of the city’s roads would be a good option.
