The proposed widening of Sankey Tank Bund Highway and the flyover from T Chowdaiah Highway to 18th Cross in Bengaluru has drawn criticism from residents, civic activists and concrete consultants. In response to the residents, the venture won’t cut back the visitors congestion within the space and the felling of timber near the bund might have severe ecological implications.
Residents residing near Sankey Tank have additionally stated they weren’t consulted concerning the venture earlier than BBMP floated tenders, and sought an in depth venture report (DPR) to be made public and organise a public session earlier than taking on the venture.
In an interview , a mobility skilled from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Prof Ashish Verma, stated the proposed venture won’t resolve visitors congestion within the space, and that’s not even a short-term answer. Prof Verma additionally stated there are elementary flaws within the course of in addition to within the DPR.
Edited excerpts:
The BBMP has refused to revoke its proposed road-widening plan for Sankey Highway regardless of opposition from numerous quarters. What’s the feasibility of the venture? Do you suppose it’s going to assist clear visitors congestion within the space?
In response to our evaluation, some sections will get congested proper from the start after the development of the flyover. In response to the DPR, the visitors progress forecast is very underestimated by assuming a meagre 5%. Taking a extra lifelike progress fee of 13% or something above, the state of affairs could be worse within the coming few years. BBMP has been proposing it as a long-term answer. In all chance, this venture won’t assist ease visitors congestion not even within the short-term.
Residents have raised issues over 40 heritage timber that can be axed as a result of venture. What variety environmental points will the relentless reducing of timber within the metropolis result in?
It is going to undoubtedly have ecological implications which now we have studied as effectively. We don’t look after pure air purifiers and the when the air pollution is dangerous, the companies say they may set up synthetic air purifiers. Nothing is extra ironical than this.
Residents worry that Vyalikaval might witness floods as a result of venture because the tank bund street had caved in earlier. Is that this one thing we have to fear about?
These constructions have a big impact on the drainage sample. We have now seen excessive flooding in Bengaluru in August final yr. The principle motive behind that’s white-topping, which has been finished indiscriminately and stage of the street has been elevated. Concrete slabs are placed on high of present roads. However doing so, you decrease the extent of the complete property. The flooding in Bengaluru final yr, was predominantly man-made. Likewise, we don’t even realise how a lot these constructions will have an effect on the drainage patterns. This undoubtedly will have an effect on how the water flows when the rain happens, into the close by areas and into the lake.
Residents declare that there was no public session and venture particulars haven’t been shared with the general public both. Do you suppose ad-hoc tasks with out a deliberate strategy are detrimental to each the setting and concrete planning?
There are elementary flaws within the course of in addition to within the DPR. By way of course of, there must be a scientific, unbiased and various evaluation. You suppose there’s visitors congestion within the Bashyam circle and close by roads, and also you need to resolve it. To unravel it, you want unbiased choice of attainable options which might be road-widening, a flyover or an underpass, visitors administration measures, optimising visitors or some sort of sign coordination alongside the hall, or pushing modes of public transport or biking. There might be a number of options to resolve the identical drawback.
The primary logical step is to all the time take a look at these attainable options, do an intensive evaluation on the influence it’s going to have in mitigating the issue, and at what value. When you do that evaluation, then you must current it to the general public and take their inputs. Then, they need to we which is the best choice when it comes to effectiveness in addition to value and accepted by the general public. After this, we should always go for a DPR. Nevertheless it has not been the case for this venture. Right here, now we have missed the entire various evaluation and determined that flyover or street widening is the one answer after which ready a DPR. That is the basic flaw within the venture.
By way of getting ready the DPR, they’ve missed out the congestion mitigation potential analysis. That is essentially the most primary factor which is a part of an engineering apply. This has been fully missed out.
What ought to a super transportation planning be about?
You must undergo various evaluation which is unbiased and there must be scientific analysis. The infrastructure work must be offered earlier than the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) which is able to scrutinise the work. The BMLTA ought to see what’s the greatest answer for the particular drawback after which the DPR must be ready.
What’s the manner forward to fixing Bengaluru’s visitors congestion?
The sustainable answer lies in lowering the whole autos kilometre travelled (VKT) by motorized mode and lowered dependence on fossil fuels. Elementary technique must be to scale back variety of motorized autos, cut back whole motorized VKT, and repair India’s power combine to renewable sources. We have now to make sustainable mode choices extra engaging to make use of and on the identical time private mobility modes much less engaging to personal and use to get the suitable steadiness of sustainable mobility options.