Have a solution for Bengaluru’s terrible traffic? Cops seek advice from residents

The police now want to revive the defunct traffic advisory committees to rope in residents in managing area-related traffic issues.

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Bengaluru residents always have one thing to complain about – traffic. While most casual conversations among city residents circle around traffic jams and the horrendous Electronic City flyover, it's also not new for Bengalureans to lament about a lack of proper traffic management.

The Bengaluru City Traffic Police is now asking residents to help assess the city's miserable traffic situation and come up with solutions. For over 25 years, the traffic advisory committee in Bengaluru has been active only on paper. The Bengaluru Traffic Police are now planning to introduce traffic advisory committees across 44 traffic police stations in the city and residents will be included in these committee. These residents will also be engaged in enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.

Bengaluru is consistently found to have among the lower traffic speeds among major urban cities in India. To help address traffic-related issues, the traffic advisory committee will consist of permanent residents, who will be able to offer solutions to concerns in their area. Although these committees were supposed to be established over two decades ago, the police have finally decided to make them a reality.

Bengaluru Traffic Police Commissioner P Harishekaran said, “From an auto driver to a cab driver to software engineer to an activist. Whoever has the ability to identify traffic-related problems and offer suggestions to solve these issues will be part of this committee. These committees will also work with officials. One journalist from each locality will be a part of the committee.”

Police officials say that public grievance meetings -- currently being held on the third Saturday of every month -- barely have any footfall. “If more people become aware of these meetings, with more participation, we will be able to pick members of the committee by narrowing down on regulars. Whatever problems are brought to the committee’s notice will be passed on to necessary authorities like the BBMP, BWSSB etc,” the police official added.

An effective move?

But traffic management expert MN Sreehari believes that the proposal is just an eyewash to make residents believe that traffic management is an inclusive space where their issues are heard.

Speaking to TNM, he said, “This committee has no powers. BBMP builds roads, BDA plans various layouts. BWSSB dig up roads at it own will. However, the traffic police permission is required for carrying out road works. This permission is given by the Traffic Commissioner. What is the point of these committees? It is an eyewash. People will come and lament and no action will be taken. What were they doing for 25 years?”

However, Ashish Verma, a professor at IISc, says that the effectiveness of the traffic advisory committees, although limited, can only be determined once they become operational. Verma argues that these committees can help identify area-specific traffic congestion problems, which can be brought to the notice of concerned authorities.