A recent study found that on Delhi roads, it is rush hour practically all the time! Not only are crowded roads frustrating and tiring to drive on, there are significant implications on pollution control and fuel consumption as well. Chronically congested roads and abysmally slow travel speeds are a problem not just in Delhi but many other Indian cities as well. Why is this?
The Centre for Science and Environment found that the rush hour traffic saw no dip in Delhi; it extends pretty much from 8AM to 9PM. The congestion was found to be higher on weekends and roads such as Sri Aurobindo Marg and Mehrauli-Badarpur are the worst.
IBM’s Global Commuter Pain Index measured the emotional and economic toll of communing in 20 cities worldwide. Bengaluru came in 6th and Delhi was 7th in terms of commuter pain.
1,500 vehicles are added to the roads of Delhi every day. That is a staggering amount. In spite of Delhi having a many wide, big roads this constant addition of vehicles is unsustainable. With places like Bengaluru, the situation is even worse because it was meant to be a small town that got transformed into a teeming urban sprawl while the roads still remained narrow.
Illegal constructions, hawkers cause problems. Slow moving vehicles such as cycles, bullock carts and even stray animals further complicate matters.
As if all this isn't enough to contend with, we then have various authorities digging up roads according to their own sweet will. As for the condition of many of our roads – the potholes, and frequent crumbling of surfaces due to poor construction material used… less said the better. That road above is hardly conducive to smooth passage of traffic.
The footpaths are either nonexistent or broken or taken over by hawkers; so pedestrians walk on the roads. No sooner is there a light shower and the roads are waterlogged. Where is the space for vehicles!
So far all efforts at easing congestion have been centered upon increasing road surface, widening roads, building flyovers and so on. Nothing is being done to discourage vehicle ownership or to take vehicles off roads. Public transport continues to be uncomfortable and non-user friendly. Where will we end? A complete gridlock?
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