Bengaluru traffic trauma: 44,000 intersections, only 5,000 cops

Bengaluru: Friday last, the entire Lower Agaram Road — which connects Koramangala and the central parts of Bengaluru —was chock-a-block because the automatic traffic signal near Infant Jesus Church could not gauge the traffic volume on both sides of the road. What’s worse was the junction did not have a traffic policeman either.

While traffic junctions on important roads are manned, smaller intersections are increasingly becoming a nightmare for commuters.

Data shared by Bengaluru Traffic Police show that there are 44,000 intersections in the city but the department has a staff strength of only 5,000 police personnel. Signalised and manned intersections are only 388 and 500 respectively.


“The traffic police are always blamed for the chaos on the road but there are multiple reasons which are not in our hands,” P Harishekaran, additional commissioner of police (traffic), said during a recent interaction with the media. He was referring to the lack of manpower, interdepartmental coordination and policy changes.

WORK TAKEN UP ON 33 ROADS
There is always road-work taking place in Bengaluru. Constant digging of roads for laying or replacing sewage or water pipelines is an old problem. The new problem is the white-topping project

White-topping is being taken up on 18 roads. The BMRCL has taken up metro rail construction on six busy stretches while GAIL has dug up three roads to lay gas pipelines

Some roads where white-topping project is underway: Vijayanagar TTMCtollgate underpass, Rajkumar memorial-Sumanahalli flyover, Ramamurthy Nagar-Hennur, Hebbal-Hennur and Mehkri Circle-Yeshwanthpur junction

GAIL is laying pipelines on the Hoodi-Horamavu, Bellandur-Uttarahalli and Horamavu-Kacharakanahalli stretches

BWSSB pipe-laying work: Subramanyapura lake-Uttarahalli, MS Palya Signal-Tirumala Dhaba of Attur Layout, Kadirenahalli petrol bunk to Banashankari temple

SOME OF THE REFORMS BY THE TRAFFIC POLICE

ONE WAYS
Totally, 193 roads have been converted to oneways in the CBD area, enabling free flow of traffic and reduction of junction conflicts

REMOVAL OF PARKING ON ARTERIAL ROADS
BTP claims to have banned on-street parking on important roads such as Old Madras Road, Tumakuru Road, Hosur Road, Mysuru Road

HOME GUARDS AND TRAFFIC WARDENS
The police department has trained volunteers to manage traffic. Also, 223 home guards have been used in different locations to ensure free flow of traffic.

TRAFFIC COBRAS
Each traffic police station has 2-3 ‘Cobras’, each comprising a traffic constable or head constable who are on the move with a walkie-talkie. They reach the congestion points to quickly relieve snarls