Is IT the cause of traffic jams in Bangalore?

Is IT the cause of traffic jams in Bangalore?

Bangalore is not only famous for IT but also for traffic jams, says Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

BANGALORE, INDIA: Union Minister for Urban Development S Jaipal Reddy said on Tuesday that the growth of IT sector in Bangalore was one of the main reasons behind the huge traffic jams, though the sector has helped the city grow.

“... there are so many traffic jams in Bangalore because the IT sector has done well,” Reddy said in his address at the Business Standard Infrastructure meet 2010 here. “Bangalore is not only famous for IT but also for traffic jams, therefore, Bangalore needs metro rail transport more urgently than other cities,” he opined.

The minister also said the central government is planning to fund 28 more cities under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) to improve civic infrastructure.

“We are considering including 28 more cities in the second phase of the urban renewal mission (JNNURM-2). The Planning Commission will consider the proposal to include 28 cities with five lakh population as per the 2001 census in the 12th five-year plan (2012-2017)," Reddy told reporters on the margins of the infrastructure meet.

Bangalore and Mysore in Karnataka are availing funds under the seven-year city modernization scheme to improve amenities. Hubli in north Karnataka is one of the 28 cities being considered for inclusion in the mission's second phase.

Noting that increasing urbanization due to demographic changes and constant migration from rural areas in search of jobs would add more pressure on the existing infrastructure in the cities, Reddy said spending in the infrastructure sector would have to go up to 10 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) from nine percent in this fiscal (2010-11) and seven percent in the last fiscal (2009-10).

(In the backdrop of the minister's remark, what do you think the IT giants in the metropolitan cities should do to help bring down the traffic problems, thus making life easier for common people? Feel free to post your comments in the box below)

With inputs from IANS

©CyberMedia News

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abhishek singh vns class nine look to care said on 9/22/2010 6:55:36 PM:
IT is the cause for urban development. If it wasnt IT which led to urbanization, it would have been something else. Being in the 21st century you cannot blame change for all your problems. The cause for the traffic jams is the incompetency of the Urban Development Ministry and that of the Traffic Police in Bangalore who are unable/unwilling to progress any further. The only progress I can see is shiny new blackberrys in some of their pockets and strategic places on roads to catch hold of petty offendors. Instead of trying to fill up their pockets, they should try to actually do their job. This would solve quite a number of traffic jams in varanasi.

to abhishek singh vns class nine look to care

abhishek singh said on 9/22/2010 6:53:41 PM:
If you didnt have a single digit IQ, you would understand whatever I said. But since it looks like you dont, let me explain it slowly.. Catching only petty offenders does not help. Consider this situation- There is a bus stop on a main road where lots of bmtc and private buses stop, and they all stop in the middle of the road or overtake each other blocking the entire road. Just further ahead in the road, there'll be a bunch of policemen catching riders without helmets. Now which one is the more pressing issue on this road? making sure buses stop in the right way or catching petty offenders for some personal money?? This happens everywhere, all the time. There is more to policing than just standing at junctions where there are already signal lights. Policing is about identifying bottlenecks on major roads and coming up with ways to ease them. Its about coming up with ways to decrease accidents on highways. But our policemen are still just coming up with new ideas and new strategic places on the road where they can catch petty offenders unwary. This is what I meant by the police not able/willing to progress any further to change their thinking and behaviour to address more pressing issues in bangalore. You got all that? If you didnt you can work on your IQ and stay away from the Traffic Police department atleast.

to abhishek singh

abhishek singh said on 9/22/2010 6:52:36 PM:
If you didnt have a single digit IQ, you would understand whatever I said. But since it looks like you dont, let me explain it slowly.. Catching only petty offenders does not help. Consider this situation- There is a bus stop on a main road where lots of bmtc and private buses stop, and they all stop in the middle of the road or overtake each other blocking the entire road. Just further ahead in the road, there'll be a bunch of policemen catching riders without helmets. Now which one is the more pressing issue on this road? making sure buses stop in the right way or catching petty offenders for some personal money?? This happens everywhere, all the time. There is more to policing than just standing at junctions where there are already signal lights. Policing is about identifying bottlenecks on major roads and coming up with ways to ease them. Its about coming up with ways to decrease accidents on highways. But our policemen are still just coming up with new ideas and new strategic places on the road where they can catch petty offenders unwary. This is what I meant by the police not able/willing to progress any further to change their thinking and behaviour to address more pressing issues in bangalore. You got all that? If you didnt you can work on your IQ and stay away from the Traffic Police department atleast.

to abhishek singh

abhishek singh said on 9/22/2010 6:48:37 PM:
traffic jams is a very big brobloms.not a ideainfact there are no traffic at all.

to abhishek singh

Collapse <div runat='server' id=Comm34761 class='CommentsContainer'><span class='commentsFrom' style='float:left;'>Srikanth said on 7/6/2010 3:13:14 AM: </span><br/>No. Not at all.

Whole world has a wrong idea that there are traffic jams, it should be called slow traffic.

Well, In fact there are no Traffic jams at all. You can pass through signal after seeing 1 or max 2 red lights.

Actually, there are too many vehicles and too few ppl folow lane discipline, thats the reason for slow traffic.

All these years (5 to 6 yrs)slow traffic was bcoz of underpass, flyovers being built. and now its bcoz of Metro, Once thse are done, I am sure it will fast.<div class='CommentLineContainer'><input type=button onClick='MoveComm(34761,ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_cphMainContentSection_cphMainContentSection_cphSection1ContentPart_ThreadedComments1_txtPid);' value='Reply'/> to Srikanth </div>

Srikanth said on 7/6/2010 3:13:14 AM:
No. Not at all. Whole world has a wrong idea that there are traffic jams, it should be called slow traffic. Well, In fact there are no Traffic jams at all. You can pass through signal after seeing 1 or max 2 red lights. Actually, there are too many vehicles and too few ppl folow lane discipline, thats the reason for slow traffic. All these years (5 to 6 yrs)slow traffic was bcoz of underpass, flyovers being built. and now its bcoz of Metro, Once thse are done, I am sure it will fast.

to Srikanth

ITPro said on 7/7/2010 2:50:31 PM:
You obviously havent travelled on Mysore Road(within bangalore limits), richmond road, bannergatta road, kanteerava stadium road leading towards corporation or any of the other major junctions in peak hours where it takes way more than 1 or two signal changes to pass through. And are there no traffic jams on roads where no construction is being done?? do you actually live in bangalore and go out often???? If you did you would know!

to ITPro

Collapse <div runat='server' id=Comm34650 class='CommentsContainer'><span class='commentsFrom' style='float:left;'>alok said on 6/30/2010 9:28:05 AM: </span><br/>Government has not spent money it is earning from the IT sector on infrastructure. In addition there is no planned thinking. Look at cities like Kanpur and Lucnow which could have developed as alternate hubs for IT but the infrastructure and power has to say a lot to catchup. <div class='CommentLineContainer'><input type=button onClick='MoveComm(34650,ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_cphMainContentSection_cphMainContentSection_cphSection1ContentPart_ThreadedComments1_txtPid);' value='Reply'/> to alok </div>

alok said on 6/30/2010 9:28:05 AM:
Government has not spent money it is earning from the IT sector on infrastructure. In addition there is no planned thinking. Look at cities like Kanpur and Lucnow which could have developed as alternate hubs for IT but the infrastructure and power has to say a lot to catchup.

to alok

joy said on 7/1/2010 10:52:50 AM:
I totally agree with your observation. These are all part of the votebank politics

to joy

Ram said on 7/6/2010 3:15:56 AM:
LOL, kanpur and lucknow 'alternate hubs'!!! in your dreams.

to Ram

Karthik said on 6/29/2010 7:41:05 PM:
Blaming It for the traffic jam is foolish. Actually, the govt which is surving on the income from such industries, is not willing to improve the infrastructure. Also, they should improve the infrastructure in the tier-2 cities so that IT firms can start operations there

to Karthik

yasmin said on 6/28/2010 3:40:49 PM:
machi super machi

to yasmin

suganya said on 6/28/2010 3:37:17 PM:
superb

to suganya

vaishnavi said on 6/28/2010 3:36:20 PM:
nice

to vaishnavi

Collapse <div runat='server' id=Comm34530 class='CommentsContainer'><span class='commentsFrom' style='float:left;'>KRao said on 6/25/2010 12:44:37 PM: </span><br/>IT is the cause for urban development. If it wasnt IT which led to urbanization, it would have been something else. Being in the 21st century you cannot blame change for all your problems. The cause for the traffic jams is the incompetency of the Urban Development Ministry and that of the Traffic Police in Bangalore who are unable/unwilling to progress any further. The only progress I can see is shiny new blackberrys in some of their pockets and strategic places on roads to catch hold of petty offendors. Instead of trying to fill up their pockets, they should try to actually do their job. This would solve quite a number of traffic jams in bangalore.<div class='CommentLineContainer'><input type=button onClick='MoveComm(34530,ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_cphMainContentSection_cphMainContentSection_cphSection1ContentPart_ThreadedComments1_txtPid);' value='Reply'/> to KRao </div>

KRao said on 6/25/2010 12:44:37 PM:
IT is the cause for urban development. If it wasnt IT which led to urbanization, it would have been something else. Being in the 21st century you cannot blame change for all your problems. The cause for the traffic jams is the incompetency of the Urban Development Ministry and that of the Traffic Police in Bangalore who are unable/unwilling to progress any further. The only progress I can see is shiny new blackberrys in some of their pockets and strategic places on roads to catch hold of petty offendors. Instead of trying to fill up their pockets, they should try to actually do their job. This would solve quite a number of traffic jams in bangalore.

to KRao

Collapse <div runat='server' id=Comm34763 class='CommentsContainer'><span class='commentsFrom' style='float:left;'>Ram said on 7/6/2010 3:19:49 AM: </span><br/>LOL, "Traffic Police in Bangalore who are unable/unwilling to progress any further"...

what u mean by unable/unwilling.
and what do mean by "progress further".

If cathcing Offenders is not traffic police's work, what else do u want them to do?<div class='CommentLineContainer'><input type=button onClick='MoveComm(34763,ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_cphMainContentSection_cphMainContentSection_cphSection1ContentPart_ThreadedComments1_txtPid);' value='Reply'/> to Ram </div>

Ram said on 7/6/2010 3:19:49 AM:
LOL, "Traffic Police in Bangalore who are unable/unwilling to progress any further"... what u mean by unable/unwilling. and what do mean by "progress further". If cathcing Offenders is not traffic police's work, what else do u want them to do?

to Ram

KRao said on 7/6/2010 10:35:21 AM:
If you didnt have a single digit IQ, you would understand whatever I said. But since it looks like you dont, let me explain it slowly.. Catching only petty offenders does not help. Consider this situation- There is a bus stop on a main road where lots of bmtc and private buses stop, and they all stop in the middle of the road or overtake each other blocking the entire road. Just further ahead in the road, there'll be a bunch of policemen catching riders without helmets. Now which one is the more pressing issue on this road? making sure buses stop in the right way or catching petty offenders for some personal money?? This happens everywhere, all the time. There is more to policing than just standing at junctions where there are already signal lights. Policing is about identifying bottlenecks on major roads and coming up with ways to ease them. Its about coming up with ways to decrease accidents on highways. But our policemen are still just coming up with new ideas and new strategic places on the road where they can catch petty offenders unwary. This is what I meant by the police not able/willing to progress any further to change their thinking and behaviour to address more pressing issues in bangalore. You got all that? If you didnt you can work on your IQ and stay away from the Traffic Police department atleast.

to KRao

Collapse <div runat='server' id=Comm34362 class='CommentsContainer'><span class='commentsFrom' style='float:left;'>thomas said on 6/18/2010 9:41:23 AM: </span><br/>IT may be one of the reasons for increase in traffic density.
But Traffic jams are caused due the rectlessness and senseless driving.

Taffic jams can be avoided or atleast reduced if drivers follow the traffic rules strictly and use little bit of common sense while driving, like give way to others , donot block the junctions, follow lane discipline etc.

Traffic police should bring in new traffic rules and strictly penalize the violators.<div class='CommentLineContainer'><input type=button onClick='MoveComm(34362,ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_cphMainContentSection_cphMainContentSection_cphSection1ContentPart_ThreadedComments1_txtPid);' value='Reply'/> to thomas </div>

thomas said on 6/18/2010 9:41:23 AM:
IT may be one of the reasons for increase in traffic density. But Traffic jams are caused due the rectlessness and senseless driving. Taffic jams can be avoided or atleast reduced if drivers follow the traffic rules strictly and use little bit of common sense while driving, like give way to others , donot block the junctions, follow lane discipline etc. Traffic police should bring in new traffic rules and strictly penalize the violators.

to thomas

Collapse <div runat='server' id=Comm34548 class='CommentsContainer'><span class='commentsFrom' style='float:left;'>Akhilesh said on 6/25/2010 11:18:35 PM: </span><br/>I agree with Thomas's comment.

Need to assess high traffic routes and options to re-route the traffic specially at peak period.

Additionally, we need to promote public transport and improve its qality.Mono-rail project should be expedited.

Multi-level parking should be introduced instead of parking on the road as the space could be used for additional lane.

The infrastructure required to support the population growth should be part of the city development plan.

We should also learn from similarly populated cities around the world and implement the approach which has practically working.

We need to think in multiple dimension, e.g. we probably need to create enough job in the 2nd tier city to minmise the rate of influx to big cities.

The list goes on<div class='CommentLineContainer'><input type=button onClick='MoveComm(34548,ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_cphMainContentSection_cphMainContentSection_cphSection1ContentPart_ThreadedComments1_txtPid);' value='Reply'/> to Akhilesh </div>

Akhilesh said on 6/25/2010 11:18:35 PM:
I agree with Thomas's comment. Need to assess high traffic routes and options to re-route the traffic specially at peak period. Additionally, we need to promote public transport and improve its qality.Mono-rail project should be expedited. Multi-level parking should be introduced instead of parking on the road as the space could be used for additional lane. The infrastructure required to support the population growth should be part of the city development plan. We should also learn from similarly populated cities around the world and implement the approach which has practically working. We need to think in multiple dimension, e.g. we probably need to create enough job in the 2nd tier city to minmise the rate of influx to big cities. The list goes on

to Akhilesh

Ram said on 7/6/2010 3:24:52 AM:
Well said bro, but that cant happen, right now its population is 80 lakhs, bangalore has to grow and it will grow, for EX; , many unmarried guys come here after they get the job, afer som time they would back to their village marry n come back, after few years they hv kids, it goes on....

to Ram