That’s odd: It’s odd and even!

Will allowing odd and even numbered vehicles corresponding with odd and even dates help Bengaluru beat burgeoning traffic and pollution? While Delhi and Mumbai have decent metro and commuter rail connectivity,  Bengaluru has a short distance and intermittent metro service. With the lack of rapid mass transport system and no will in bringing down pollution, will odd and even numbers be a hit or disaster in Bengaluru, is the big question.

Metro connectivity
Experts believe it is highly impractical to allow odd and even numbered vehicles corresponding with odd and even dates in Bengaluru, especially in the absence of a full-fledged metro network. Of the 42.30 kms planned under Phase 1 so far, only 25.5 km of metro network is functioning in Bengaluru. Delhi on the other hand has 213 km of metro network running and successful with 160 metro stations. Sanjeev V Dyamannavar, member of Praja RAAG, an advocacy group, points out, “The ministers in Delhi can dare to implement such a rule because they have the necessary infrastructure backing them. Delhi has a massive metro network compared to Bengaluru and that is supported by a circular railway. Then they have Airport Express, which is one of the best in the country.”

Besides, Delhi has invested heavily in pedestrian infrastructure and they have integrated the metro with every mode of transport, be it bus or autos. They have a beautiful multi-modal transport system in place.” Ramesh G, a sales manager, says, “I can imagine the chaos we’d have to suffer if the odd and even number rule is to be made applicable to our city. We have to travel a lot for sales and in the absence of a metro or commuter rail service; we will be part of the suffering lot. Moreover, the piece-meal metro network that is in place is not even integrated properly.”
 
Bus services
BMTC buses are the only predominant mass transport system in Bengaluru city, however, very little has been done by the government to boost and improve its infrastructure. Today, only 52 lakhs travel in BMTC buses per day. BMTC has 6500 buses and another 6500 buses are required. Unlike Bengaluru, Delhi has an efficient city bus service with proper bus shelters in place that give away information pertaining to the details of departure and so on. BMTC activist Vinay Sreenivas agrees that there are lacunas in the BMTC but at the same time, feels development of BMTC services and restrictions on private vehicles have to go hand in hand.

He says, “We cannot wait till the bus services are improved to curb the over usage of private vehicles. Before we reach a tipping point like Delhi did, we have to take some initiative. There is no doubt that we need more buses. BMTC should introduce smaller mini buses to go to the residential areas and outskirts. Then they need to ensure regular frequency, if we can do this, people will definitely use buses — irrespective of whether they are Volvo or ordinary buses. Delhi has a massive metro network but still even today, they are in such a hopeless situation. So we cannot have much hope from the metro. Our only hope is from the buses and we need to upgrade them.”

On the bus shelters, he says, “Of the 8000 stops, only 2000 stops have shelter. It is high time BBMP handed over the shelters to BMTC.” Pranesh G, a commuter points out, “BMTC celebrates the bus days which are finally getting their due. BMTC was supposed to take feedback and add more buses, taking the demand in account. But nothing seems to be happening. We cannot have even odd numbers vehicles rule here until BMTC services are improved tremendously.”
 
Taxi and auto services
In the absence of an efficient BMTC service and full-fledged metro, a majority of people in Bengaluru have come to depend on auto-rickshaws and taxi services. Fear is lurking in the minds of many who depend on these modes for their daily commute.  Transport commissioner Ramegowda points out, “The rule is applicable only to private vehicles. Taxis and auto rickshaws will be exempted if at all we implement this rule in Bengaluru. If this rule is made applicable to taxis and autos, then they will have to sit without business every alternative day!”

Can citizens leave their vehicles at home on alternate days?

Many officials in the state transport department and traffic police, feel that if the Odd-Even number system was introduced in the city, a major problem would be parking of the cars on alternative days. Speaking to this newspaper, an officer from the state transport department said parking of cars would be a big issue. "Presently in most of the residential areas, private vehicles are parked on roads. As owners drive cars in the day time, it will not create any problem for vehicular movement. But if vehicles were not allowed to drive on particular days, definitely it will create road blocks and traffic jams," he said.

Private car owners fear that if such a rule is implemented, they need to look for separate parking lots in their locality, which will add to their woes. "There are no dedicated parking zones or buildings. Such a move will definitely make the government unpopular among the city residents. Before taking any decision in this regard, the state must wait and watch the New Delhi experiment," says Mr. Jayaram Bhat, a private car owner from Basavanagudi.

"The Delhi government banned only private vehicles. This means autos, which are bigger pollutants than private cars and cab aggregators, can operate their vehicles. Any move of this kind will help them to make huge sums. Due to the poor last mile connectivity issue, definitely BMTC cannot help,” argues Mr. Stephen D'souza, a businessman from Mattikere.

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