A large city with high density development requires rapid rail transit network with bus transport as feeder service. Only bus transport will not be able to meet the demand. Bangalore has developed in a radial pattern with concentration of traffic on radial roads and the central area. Rapid transit system is to be introduced when a city reaches a population of three million for convenient connectivity to all parts of the city. But, unfortunately this was not done in Bangalore in spite of the suggestion of the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), New Delhi to the state government proposing Rapid Transit System on two of the busy corridors after conducting comprehensive traffic and transportation surveys of Bangalore Metropolitan Area in the year 1964. The two corridors suggested by CRRI were Old Madras Road to Jayanagar via Hudson Circle, and another from Rajajinagar to Jayanagar via city Railway Station and Hudson Circle. We have not learnt from the experience of foreign countries where we do not find traffic congestion on roads. Paris introduced Metro Rail as early as the year 1900. Citizens get into the metro station in their locality within a km and get out near their destination after a comfortable journey without wasting time.
Transit system for this large city is a complete network of Metro Rail with feeder services. What we have is a small link connecting Byappanahalli to M.G. Road. The citizens are facing hardship with acute traffic congestion, vehicular pollution, long journey time to reach the suburbs, serious parking problems, accidents, etc in addition to other civic problems. Before making suggestions for improvement, the existing transit system is discussed as follows:
BUS TRANSPORT
The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) operates 6,600 buses on 6085 routes with 79,000 schedules, appointing 3, 34,000 drivers and conductors. But with all that bus transport is not convenient and number of private vehicles has increased. More than one vehicle is observed in almost all the house holds. We observe BMTC buses with only few people during peak hours. The reason is that the buses cannot move freely due to traffic congestion and it takes a long time to reach their destinations. BMTC feels that by introducing more buses the mass transportation problem will be solved. Definitely no. A rapid transit network like Metro Rail with feeder services like monorail, Light Rail Transport (LRT) System, and bus transport is required.
Bus transport is suitable only in tier two cities like Hubli-Dharwad, Mysore, Mangalore, Belgaum, and Gulburga.
Growth Of Vehicles
There are 4.8 million vehicles in Bangalore which is more than Mumbai with 2.0 million vehicles, and Delhi with 3.5 million vehicles. The number of vehicles in Bangalore is half the number of vehicles in the whole state. The number of vehicles in Bangalore by the year 2021 will be about 6.0 million as we cannot expect complete network of Metro Rail System and the feeder services to curb the growth of private vehicles.
Traffic Congestion
Serious traffic congestion is observed on all transportation corridors. It takes one hour for journey from nearer localities around CBD and about one and half to two hours to reach the suburbs of the city. The traffic police have no alternative except to introduce traffic signals at almost all intersections along the traffic corridors in and around the CBD. One way roads increasing the distance to reach the destinations, prohibition of parking on almost all the traffic corridors etc are imposed. The connectivity problem has affected social activities including attending functions arranged by relatives and friends.
Traffic Accidents
The number of traffic accidents is increasing due to large number of vehicles on roads.
Staggering Work Hours
Efforts to reduce the traffic congestion by staggering school timings and that of major private concerns has not helped as the working members of the family in the city with about 10 million population are in different types of activities. Traffic congestion is observed throughout the day. The only solution is to curb the growth of private vehicles and switch over to mass transit which has to be organized for better connectivity as early as possible.
Increase In Population
Increase in population in Bangalore city according to census reports since 1981 is as follows:
Year
|
Population
|
Percentage Increase
|
1981
|
29.13
|
76.72
|
1991
|
40.86
|
40.27
|
2001
|
65.37
|
59.98
|
2011
|
95.88
|
46.67
|
It is necessary to limit the growth of population in the city by curbing major economic activities in Bangalore and attracting economic activities in the tier two cities. The rate of increase to be achieved should not be more than 35% i.e., by natural increase 25% and limited migration up to 10%. With this assumption, population that may be expected in the future is as follows:
Year
|
Population in Lakhs
|
Percentage Increase
|
2021
|
129.44
|
35.0
|
2031
|
174.74
|
35.0
|
2041
|
235.90
|
35.0
|
2051
|
318.46
|
35.0
|
All efforts are to be made by the State Government to curb the growth of population in Bangalore failing which the civic problems will be serious making living and working miserable.
Multi-Modal Transport System
It is very much necessary to introduce multi-modal transport system in Bangalore. Such a system was found successful in Japan and Malaysia with Metro-Rail, Mono Rail and bus transport operated in a co-ordinated manner.
Metro Rail:
Metro rail may be extended up to the peripheral road with provision to extend beyond to cover the extension of the city in the future. It may be extended immediately to the Bangalore International Airport for connectivity from all the suburbs. The rapid rail proposed from BRV to International Airport may be dropped as it will create more complications along Sankey Road and Bellary Road with so many fly overs. New metro rail corridors may be proposed along the remaining heavy traffic corridors like Bellary road, HAL Airport Road, Sarjapura Road, Doddaballapur Road, and Magadi Road.
Mono Rail:
Mono rail corridors may be proposed as feeder service to the metro rail network and also on other traffic corridors not covered by metro rail network like Kanakapura Road, Bagalur Road, Banaswadi Road, along the outer ring road, Hesaraghatta Road and in between Doddaballapur Road, and Hesaraghatta Road.
Bus Transport:
Bus transport is to be re-organized as feeder service connecting all metro rail and mono rail stations and provide connectivity to the engineering and medical colleges located along out lying areas of Bangalore.
Conclusion
When the multi-modal transport system is introduced as a comprehensive proposal, and the projects required are taken up simultaneously involving private sector, it is possible to provide relief to the citizens for convenient travel avoiding all the serious traffic and transportation problems as stated earlier in this Article. This will also prevent the trend for private vehicle ownership which is increasing at present at a rate of 14% per year. Shall we hope that the Multi-model system proposal receives consideration of the Government on priority to avoid very costly projects like Rapid Rail Link.
More,
