Bangalore.. The Silicon Valley of India, IT Hub and known by many other epithets..is the epitome of the New India, resurgent, confident and a Knowledge Superpower of the world.
The city hosts numerous software and IT related companies including global giants like Microsoft, Cisco, Intel etc.Is home to a huge expat population both national and international.Has swanky shopping malls, multiplexes, high rise apartments. That is all the trappings of a fast modern lifestyle.
But sadly it lacks one very essential amenity..Roads. The roads all over Bangalore are in a terrible..terrible state. Potholes, narrow roads, no proper traffic signals, no proper surfacing. A whole book can be devoted to describe the woes of Bangalore roads. And the travails of an average Bangalore commuter. Most of the so called "roads" of Bangalore much rather look like the Lunar landscape than anything resembling the earth. And if it rains then may God help us all. Areas like JP Nagar get flooded with just an hour or so of rains. The famous crossings of Silk Board, Koramangala, MG Road are millions of IT professionals daily living nightmare. And wherever the roads are in a somewhat decent shape some or the other organization digs it up. Which takes ages to fill up and even then a very shoddy work is done.
The roads in general are very narrow and the rapid rate at which vehicular population is growing in the city everyday makes it even worse. Instead of widening the existing roads
and making some new ones. The administration gives permission to make shopping malls and office blocks which even more compound the problem. "Total" Mall in Kormangala is a very beautiful case in example for this. Moreover another beautiful strategy of the Administration is to put dividers on already narrow roads which are not properly illuminated and marked posing a threat to motorists. Add to that maniacal drivers who neither care nor understand about basic traffic rules crown the icing on the cake. Particularly bus drivers of BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Service), cab drivers of the IT companies and loaded trucks are the worst offenders. This has resulted in the huge number of traffic accidents and unnecessary losing of lives.
Now if we talk about roads inside localities that opens one whole new can of worms. Almost 90% of Bangalore 's localities have no roads or roads that put that particular word to shame. Whether they be the poshest areas to shabbiest slums all have the same story to tell.
All through this while the Traffic Police and other concerned Authorities do is pass the buck around or doing things which make the situation even worse. The attitude shown by these people is very myopic and suits a small time town rather than a modern metropolis.
Some immediate steps that can be taken to alleviate somewhat the agony of the daily commuter is to widen by at least two feet all the arterial roads of the city. It will involving demolishing some structures but it will be for the long term good.
To absolutely ban the entry of heavy lorries and trucks inside the city during normal daytime hours. This practice is followed in a lot o cities of India but still is an alien concept to this city. Also to ban the movement of tractors on city roads. These vehicles are very ungainly and slow, are driven by people who are absolutely unaware of something known as traffic rules and pose a big threat to the people.
To repair all roads at earnest and do it in such a way that they last for a while, rather than the customary months. And to lay roads where they are not there.
Proper training imparted to Traffic Police personnel so that management of traffic can be done effectively.
To discourage any kinds of road digging activity on the major roads and ensure proper monitoring and repair of the road if it is absolutely essential to do so..
Any other comments from you will be great.....
