On second Sunday of every month, people will be prodded to keep their private vehicles off the roads. This initiative is to encourage people to take public transport with the aim of reducing air pollution and traffic congestion. But to make it work, both government and people need to work in tandem
BENGALURU: On the night of February 11 -- which is the second Sunday of that month -- you will realise how serious Bengaluru’s citizens really are about reducing traffic congestion and air pollution.
That day will hopefully see private vehicles going off the roads in response to the state government’s initiative of starting ‘Less Traffic Day’ campaign on the second Sunday of every month (starting February 11, 2018), as announced by transport minister HM Revanna on Wednesday.
Vehicular emission monitoring programme of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has shown that 30.08 percent of diesel vehicles and 15.12 percent of petrol vehicles failed the pollution under control (PUC) test in the city. That is, 19.4 percent of all vehicles failed the PUC test.
The minister had clearly spelt the state government’s intention of launching the ‘Less Traffic Day’: “We have to take measures to contain air pollution levels in the city. With 72 lakh vehicles in Bengaluru, in future we could face a situation that the national capital (New Delhi) is in today.”
If Bengalureans respond to this call standing as one, about 65 lakh vehicles, out of the total 72 lakh (the city’s vehicle population), will remain off the roads.
Just imagine what Bengaluru would look like -- more importantly, imagine what you would feel like to roam the city, free of traffic congestion and its air significantly rid of pollutants.
The State Government is keen on evolving this once-a-month ‘Less Traffic Day’ into a public movement; but there are no plans of enacting a law to force people to keep their private vehicles off the roads and take public transport, the Metro, or pedal their way around during this campaign.
NEED OF THE HOUR
The aim is justified. Suspended particulate matter (PM) in the air which are lesser than 10 microns (PM10) and 2.5 microns (PM2.5) are the city’s bane. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s (KSPCB) air quality monitoring at 16 locations across Bengaluru has revealed that both PM10 and PM2.5 are way above the respective permissible limits of 60 micro grams/cubic metre and 40 micro grams/cubic metre.
When these particulate matter are breathed in, health problems like wheezing, coughing, poor breathing/lungs quality, dust allergy, and sleeplessness (insomnia) occur as short term effects, while the long-term effects include emphysema, asthma, weakness, stamina loss and skin and eye irritation/diseases.
The state government’s idea of ‘Less Traffic Day’ is borne from the fact that the transport sector contributes the most to city’s air pollution with 42 percent , while road dust contributes 20 percent -- and the latter is thrown up mainly because of heavy traffic movement on the city roads. These two are followed by construction activity (14 percent), industries (14 percent), DG sets (7 percent), and domestic (3 per cent).
PREPARATION REQUIRED
Despite the well-meaning initiative to launch the campaign with an eye on mitigating the air-pollution and traffic congestion problems plaguing the city, this initiative needs a lot of preparation.
As this is a voluntary campaign -- which means that it is not an enforced campaign that makes it compulsory to keep your private vehicle in your garage -- the state government, through the civic agencies, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), should increase services to discourage the citizens from taking out their private vehicles.
Transport minister Revanna did say on Wednesday that they would ensure that Metro rail frequency would be raised, and the number of bus schedules would also be increased. That needs to be ensured as the first step towards this campaign becoming successful.
Vinay Sreenivasa, member, Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike, also has a point: “Before proceeding with an initiative of this sort, one must ensure that the background preparation is done. There must be efforts to understand why people do not take the bus. For some, there is an issue with the number of buses, while for many others, the pricing is too high. If the root cause of a problem is addressed and then campaigns are conducted, it makes sense. Charging heavy parking fee for four wheelers can be a way to dissuade people from using them.”
Although promising to be a trend-changing campaign, if preceding actions are not ensured, this would result in ‘Less Traffic Day’, too, joining the ranks of many earlier ones which were launched, only to ultimately wither away.
AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is defined as “contamination of the air by noxious /unwanted gases and minute particles of solid and liquid matter (particulates) in concentrations that endanger/problems to the health”
IMPACT ON HEALTH
Short-term effect: Wheezing, coughing, lungs/breathing quality, dust allergy, sleeplessness (insomnia).
Long-term effect: Emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, weakness, stamina loss, skin irritation/diseases.
Less traffic day: At a glance
Private vehicles to stay off the roads on second Sunday of every month.
It will start from February 11, 2018.
65 lakh, out of a total 72 lakh, vehicles expected to remain off the roads.
Metro rail frequency to be increased to encourage people to take that.
More BMTC bus schedules to be added to accommodate Sunday commuters.
The aim is to prevent Bengaluru from going New Delhi way.
State government is keen on evolving this into a mass movement in Bengaluru.
No plans to enact laws to enforce this as it will be a voluntary initiative.
Cabs and and autorickshaws will ply the city roads.
OTHER POSSIBLE OPTIONS TO PONDER
1) OPEN CYCLE LANES TO ENCOURAGE CYCLING
Cycling, if encouraged by laying only-cycle tracks would go a long way in wooing a considerably significant motoring population in the city away from using their private cars and bikes.
2) LAST-MILE CONNECTIVITY
Adding short-distance buses from Metro destination stations to inner areas of the city would provide convenience and encourage motorists to take the Metro to travel long distances rather than their
own vehicles.
3) ADD MORE OPTIONS IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Cable car way is being considered, and could be a better option than people using their private vehicles.
