Kalaburagi
Kalaburagi, the bustling divisional center of Kalyan Karnataka, is grappling with a severe traffic nightmare as the number of vehicles surpasses the city’s capacity to accommodate them. The district, with a total of 5.69 lakh vehicles, is particularly burdened by the vehicular congestion in Kalaburagi taluk, including the city itself. According to the Regional Transport Authority (RTO) of the city, Kalaburagi taluk alone hosts 2,90,543 vehicles. The majority of these vehicles include 2.33 lakh two-wheelers, 24,671 cars, 9,438 goods vehicles, 7,693 passenger autos, 4,619 goods autos, 2,094 motor cabs, and 5,337 tractors. The heavy concentration of these vehicles significantly impacts city roads. The metropolitan area, covering 1,100 km, is particularly affected, with routes such as the Central bus station route from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel circle, supermarket, and Lalageri cross road experiencing intense vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Evenings witness heavy traffic on these routes, compounded by bikes parked along the roadsides and cars creating additional congestion. Footpaths, originally designated for pedestrians, have transformed into business centers, leaving little space for people on foot. As the vehicle count continues to rise, the city faces the dual challenge of deteriorating roads and the careless behavior of motorists. Broken signals and vehicles parked haphazardly further contribute to the chaotic traffic conditions, forcing pedestrians to navigate through crowded roads with little regard for their safety. The recent incident of the tragic collision resulting in the death of Bidar Vidhan Parishad member Arvind Kumar Arali’s mother has heightened fears among pedestrians, reinforcing the urgent need for effective traffic management and infrastructure improvements.
