Did you notice that no one in government has stepped forward to say why the steel flyover to Hebbal is being proposed? Do you wonder why? I mean, if this is something that is truly going to make a difference to traffic congestion in north Bengaluru, would you not imagine that someone would be eager to take the credit for it?
As many urban planners have noted in the past week, the proposal has all kinds of flaws. It is not part of the Master Plan, it is a terrible idea, it encourages more private vehicles instead of public transport, it costs a bomb, it uses unproven technology, and it probably won't make things any better. With this many de-merits, it should be quite simple to shelve it.
That may happen. But winning each battle painstakingly is not the way to win the war for better governance and infrastructure in the city. We have to reform this from the root.
First, we have to stop thinking of 'junctions' and instead have a plan for overall mobility in the city. Without this, we will simply end up attempting some band-aid like intervention at each junction, without any hope of reducing congestion.
Second, we need to have quality infrastructure built far more rapidly than today. Compared to the stronger economies of the world, Indian road construction technology is ancient. If it feels like we're building roads with shovels and pick-axes, it's because - in a metaphorical sense - we are.
Third, we have to think of infrastructure and sustainable transport as twins. No matter how many roads and bridges we build, without a much sharper focus on buses, walking and cycling, we will end up spending a lot of money for very little gain. The proposed steel flyover for six km, for example, will cost as much as 4,000 buses!
Fourth, we have to get some competent people into BDA. It is a secretive organisation, with very little internal capacity for infrastructure or housing development - its two main functions. The fact that it has unquestionably and so evidently failed to perform these roles should lead us to ask, why. And a very big part of the answer has to do with who works there.
A properly constituted Board of the BDA, with representation from citizens' groups, urban planners and economic development experts, is needed to steer a new course. This is quite easily doable, but only by a government that is genuinely committed to a better Bengaluru.
