Sangliana's moves irk BATF members

By K. Satyamurty

BANGALORE, NOV. 19. The Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) members are perturbed over certain reported decisions of the Police Commissioner, Mr. H.T. Sangliana, about making major changes in traffic regulations now enforced in Bangalore.

The BATF, along with major stakeholders, such as the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), was involved in drafting the ambitious Central Area Traffic Management Plan. The main aim of the plan was to help the authorities and road users cope with the perennial traffic congestion in the City as a result of unplanned and unanticipated growth, both in population and the number of vehicles on the roads, many of which were never intended for such heavy traffic density.

The traffic management plan was expected to benefit citizens by reducing travel time and fuel consumption, and to gradually reduce the number of private vehicles on the roads by increasing bus frequency through means such as dedicated bus lanes and articulated buses with larger capacity to be operated by the BMTC. The one-way traffic regulations enforced in phases on several major roads were also an inherent part of the plan.

Mr. Sangliana's version of traffic regulations reportedly involves introducing two-way traffic over the relatively narrow Richmond Circle flyover and making major changes in the one-way regulations now in force on some of the roads.

Many BATF members feel such drastic changes will add to traffic problems and bring back chaos on the now decongested roads. Road users, who were just getting used to the one-way rules after initial grumbling, will be the sufferers, they say. Such changes will also affect all future plans of the BATF for streamlining the traffic in the most crowded areas of the City. The very purpose of building the Richmond Circle flyover -- to reduce traffic congestion on Richmond Road, Residency Road, and their busy intersection -- will be defeated if a two-way system is introduced on the flyover, some BATF members feel.

The BATF has also questioned the Police Commissioner's view that the flyover is under-utilised. One BATF member remarks: ``If the flyover is not crowded with vehicles, it only shows there is no congestion on the approach roads. The one-way system on the flyover is working very well.''

Nrupathunga Road: The proposal to remove the one-way regulation on Nrupathunga Road has also come under flak from BATF members. They say the Police Commissioner should not succumb to pressure from the ``legal lobby'' -- some persons have to travel a greater distance to reach the Civil Courts complex. ``A majority of other commuters who now feel the one-way system is convenient will have to face constant traffic jams again,'' they say.

Traffic Police sources say the one-way regulations introduced following BATF recommendations will not be completely done away with. Changes will be made only on certain roads where the one- way rule has caused serious inconvenience to road users. A two- way traffic system on the Richmond Circle flyover makes better sense, considering all factors, they say.

Significantly, there has been no opposition so far from the BATF regarding Mr. Sangliana's other proposals, such as banning bicycles from some parts of M.G. Road, or making that road vehicle-free for one weekend each month.

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