BENGALURU: With the next chief minister due to take charge soon, experts list out issues related to traffic and mobility bothering Namma Bengaluru, that need immediate attention. Once the new government is formed, they insist that the transport infrastructure projects promised in the manifesto are vetted by Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA). No transport infrastructure projects should be executed unless an unbiased alternative analysis is carried out to choose the best as well as a cost-effective option, they suggest.
Mobility expert from the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) Ashish Verma shared his expectations from the new Karnataka government. “One of the first things the new government should do is to make BMLTA fully functional, involving mobility experts with relevant academic background, experience and expertise. They should ensure that all transport infrastructure projects, promised in the election manifesto, are first vetted by BMLTA scientifically for their feasibility and effectiveness, longevity and sustainability.”
He stressed that no transport infrastructure project should be executed unless an unbiased alternative analysis is carried out to choose the best as well as the most cost-effective option. He pointed out that in the past, it has been seen that governments tend to bypass this important step and directly prepare DPR of projects.
Verma said that with considerable changes in land use and travel, patterns observed post-Covid in Bengaluru, the government should initiate a fresh joint Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) and Master Plan exercise through BMLTA.
Shaheen Shasha of Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike, a bus commuters group, urged the government to place priority on improved public transport, by increasing the BMTC fleet, setting up bus priority lanes and reducing traffic. She insisted that the Congress government should not build ‘signal-free’ corridors across the city and tunnel roads in Central Business District, as announced in their election manifesto, as these projects do not solve the issue of traffic and have been opposed.
“The BMLTA bill passed by the previous BJP government has issues with how it’s conceived and constituted. We hope the new government will fix these issues through appropriate amendments and make BMLTA functional. More importantly, there is an urgent need to revisit the city planning processes and practices,” she said.