BENGALURU: Walking through Commercial Street is not an easy feat with honking vehicles brushing past as you jostle through the crowded, narrow alleys. If this situation holds true for you, then you aren’t alone.
The clamour to turn the busy shopping destination vehicle-free is growing louder.
According to Bengaluru Traffic Police, areas like Commercial Street, Church Street, Brigade Road, Chickpet, Avenue Road, Indiranagar, Koramangala and HSR Layout can be made vehicle-free on weekends only if residents and trader associations express interest and show initiative.
“Cubbon Park has already been turned traffic-free on Sundays. We are happy to facilitate vehicle-free stretches on weekends if residents and traders approach us. Several places like Commercial Street and Avenue Road that see high pedestrian movements could be converted into vehicle-free areas,” said Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) R Hithendra.
Last year, Bengaluru Traffic Police and Commercial Street Traders Association banned movement of vehicles for a few hours on a weekend but the move later lost steam.
The city could probably take a cue from its neighbouring metropolis Chennai, which is all set to turn its commercial centre T Nagar and surrounding areas vehicle-free.
Many regular visitors to Commercial Street say the shopping hub is losing its charm because of increasing number of vehicles. “I used to go to Commercial Street regularly but not any more. It’s chaotic and polluted because of the vehicles and there is hardly any space to walk as pavements are encroached on. It’s high time vehicles are banned on bylanes like Dispensary Road, Ebrahim Sahib Street and Narayan Pillai Street,” said 65-year-old K Sarojamma.
Ajay Motwani, vice-president of Commercial Street Association, said, “We welcome the move to restrict vehicles on weekends but authorities should also provide parking spaces and create awareness among customers.” He said cab pick-up points could also be earmarked for those visiting Commercial Street. “We will get more customers if roads are made pedestrian-friendly.”
Experts say imposing congestion tax during peak hours and banning cars in Central Business District (CBD) areas would encourage pedestrians.
While BBMP started building wider pavements in CBD areas under TenderSURE project, its proposed multi-level parking facilities still remain on paper.
“I have stopped going to CBD areas for shopping mainly because of the inadequate parking facilities. If I park on the roadside, traffic police may tow away the vehicle and impose hefty fines and a majority of commercial establishments don’t have parking spaces,” said Suresh T R, a resident of Koramangala.