Bengaluru: Fix Hebbal flyover first

Bengaluru: Now that the steel bridge project between Chalukya Circle and Hebbal has been dropped, the focus has turned to alternatives that can solve the  traffic troubles on the stretch. While it has been suggested that the BDA should widen the Hebbal flyover to ease traffic heading for the international airport, some believe  this is yet another redundant idea.

"The Hebbal flyover already has 10 lanes that suddenly drop to six  on the next flyover, cramming vehicles  into the smaller space. Widening roads is a non -solution," argues Mr Sathya, a transport expert from Prajaa RAAG.

Agreeing with him, Mr Pawan Mulukutla, an expert on urban transport at the World Resources Institute, feels the authorities need to use the existing space instead of widening roads. “In the junction below, there is  a lot of debris on either side and  taxis parked. This is a problem with junction design," he says.

A monorail to complement the existing modes of transport is another solution offered. But some say jumping into another project is not the solution. Tackling mobility through strategy is the key , they believe.

“ Globally, the most sustainable mode of transport are buses, the metro and suburban rails. Where has the monorail worked successfully? They have all been abandoned because they have little carrying capacity,” points out Mr Mulukutla.

 Noting that every city has its own needs, Mr Sathya  deplores that the BDA is avoiding revealing the “modal share” or  the number of trips a particular mode of transport makes in the city. “For Master Plan 2031, there needs to be a target to achieve. Only if there is such a study, can the city allocate its resources to bus, monorail, suburban rail, metro, and so on. Carrying capacity, speed and infrastructure are among the many factors that need to be carefully looked into before choosing a mode of mass transport. Even if a flyover has to be widened, the modal share study needs to prove the need,” he explains.

Risky rumblers
As the flyover from the airport descends to ground level, you see white strips across the road that look like speed- breakers. These are often a nuisance for drivers and motorists, as they can cause two- wheelers to skid. Mr Srinidhi of  Praaja explains that these are rumblers, which  are meant to alert an inattentive driver to  possible danger. He believes that it is the plastic paint that makes the rumble strip risky for vehicles. Usually rubber rumblers serve as speed breakers, but the plastic paint is what leads to shaking of the car or bike, he says.