Traffic problems in Bangalore need no introduction. I am not
going to brag about it here. Instead, I am sharing my observation on the cause
for the chaotic condition and some suggestions which I could think of.
Traffic police department in Bangalore is actually doing a
good job but they alone can’t manage the city especially when they are less in
number. They need to have proper backup from BBMP and BMTC. Lack of infrastructure and insufficient public
transport results in exponential growth in number of private vehicles plying on
the road (especially single passenger cars).
As a regular traveler thru the notorious junctions like Tin
Factory, K R Puram, Mahadevpura, Marathahalli and Kadubheesanahalli, I have
some observations.
- I am not bored If am waiting in a signal for 5 min (especially if there is timer) but I am tired and angry in snail paced traffic.
- Most of the congestion is caused by (driving) cultureless drivers. They don’t follow lane traffic and they don’t wait for anyone. In short they don’t think.
- In Bangalore we have lot of “X” junctions where we don’t have signal. X junction is the place where one traveling in left lane want to move to right and the guy on right lane want to come to left. Tin Factory is the best example for it. Its replicated in all small service road to main road junctions.
- To make the situation worse, we will have a BMTC bus stop where a ~13-meter long bus will be on halt. Ideally 3-4 such buses will be there. They will block the vehicle movement in junctions.
If we can remove the bus stops from running lane, and install
traffic signals at deserving areas, traffic congestion can be avoided to a great extent. But in a
city like Bangalore, we don’t have space left near main roads to have separate bus
bay. So the only option left out is to go vertically!
Yea, build either flyovers or underpasses. In most of the area we have flyovers. So building
another one may not be feasible.
So what can’t we go with underground bus bay?!
Here let’s see the example of Marathahalli junction,
direction towards silk board.
At this junction we have the typical ‘X’ road, and a bus
stop. This junction in ORR is super busy all the time as it has 3-4 tech parks
and lot of commercial establishments.
Proposal:
Let’s build an underpass bus bay (in every congested place
like this). The X junction can be placed
on top of the bus bay. And instead of a 90-degree angle connecting road (from
service road to ORR), let’s build it at 120-130 degree, this ensures smooth migration
of vehicles.
The vehicles coming from service road will continue left
lane where buses will take right lane into the underground bus bay. Similarly, the
buses in ORR will take left lane to enter the underground bus bay.
Other vehicles can use other lanes on right side. Vehicles from
service road will enter ORR over bus-bay, so we won’t lose any space due to bus
stops and other vehicles won’t be blocked due to improper parking of buses.
Please share your thoughts on the same. I am not sure whether the concerned department will take this seriously. but in case if they are considering it, I am confident that it can bring in some positive change.
Please pass this blog, if you like the concept so that it may reach the apt people or departments.
Thank you!
