Traffic diversions result in huge expenditure on diesel
Picture used for representational purpose. (Photo: DC/File)
Chennai: The Metropolitan Transport Corporation which transports about 55 lakh people daily in Chennai incurs heavy losses. The common man blames the MTC crew and ticketless travellers for this. But the Chennai city traffic police is the actual villain, as it forces the PSU to bleed because of heavy diesel expenses incurred thanks to one ways and traffic diversions.
A crude calculation by City Connect, an NGO working on urban infrastructure, has revealed that the MTC exchequer incurs huge losses. The observation of an MTC bus between Velachery and Guindy estate reveals that it is forced to travel a 3.6 km detour for every trip as there are no right turns or U-turns at prominent junctions. And this means '42 lakh more per year in this circuit alone, City Connect sources said.
K.P Subramanian, former professor of Urban engineering at Anna university says, “Making one ways is not a way forward. According to the guideline of the Indian Road Congress, the extra travel on a one way should not be more than 30 per cent. But on Nungambakkam-Sterling road circuit it is 900 per cent extra and at Little Mount it is 500 per cent.”
He added, “People traveling from Guindy to Velachery are forced to pay more as an extra stage is added.”
However some drivers have a respite from one ways. MTC union president K. P. Raju says, “The distance travelled is more but it has not translated into losses. The driver has to stop less due to fewer traffic jams and therefore the engine is not idling and burning fuel. Also it saves time and makes driving easier.”
( Source : dc )
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