Bengaluru
The chronic traffic congestion plaguing Bangalore’s IT City has left commuters and visitors alike grappling with nightmarish gridlocks and sluggish vehicular movement. Mobility experts have now proposed a solution: the imposition of ‘congestion charges’ on vehicles, with the revenue generated dedicated to enhancing public transport and reducing the traffic chaos. Last week’s infamous one-and-a-half-hour traffic jam on the Outer Ring Road (ORR), which drew international attention and even inspired jokes from stand-up comedian Trevor Noah, underscored the severity of the city’s traffic woes. Professor Ashish Verma, director of the Sustainable Transportation Lab at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), explained that Bangalore’s congestion woes stem from a glaring mismatch between travel demand, available infrastructure, and service provision. Factors contributing to this problem include uneven road conditions, inefficient traffic management, and the prevalence of private cars and two-wheelers. Addressing these challenges, the ‘Agile & Sustainable Mobility for All’ report, part of the ‘Brand Bangalore’ campaign’s ‘Mobility Vertical,’ has proposed the implementation of ‘congestion pricing.’ This would involve charging road users during peak hours or in congested areas. Prof. Verma highlighted the importance of reducing private vehicle usage while simultaneously improving infrastructure and services for sustainable transportation. Congestion charges, he suggested, would play a pivotal role in discouraging personal vehicle use, with the revenue reinvested to enhance sustainable mobility options. The implementation of charges should go hand in hand with improvements in public transport, as well as cycling and walking infrastructure. Urban mobility expert Shreya Gadepalli emphasized that congestion pricing offers a win-win scenario. Those willing to pay for congestion-free roads can reach their destinations smoothly, while rapid bus services become a reliable alternative for those who prefer not to pay.
