thumb_up 159

COMMENTS

• thumb_up 46 Likes
• · login or register to post comments

Good to hear praja folks meeting up with traffic police (Mr.Sood). The ideas presented made good reading. Bravo ! & let's keep it going.

• thumb_up 43 Likes
• · login or register to post comments

Coming here late with my notes. But folks above haven't left anything uncovered. My takeaways from the meeting were

• With a lot of work about to start - Metro digging, 8 flyovers on Outer Ring Road's east loop, and possibly some elevated roads (not sure about this) - next 2-3 years could be hell. 
• As we have learned in our interactions with BMTC, BMLTA, and Traffic Police, responsibilities are split across carious bodies. Cyncis will add the word 'conveniently', but I will try to sound a bit constructive and say that we need to forget lobbying about individual projects and specifics like enforcement, pavements. This city needs to institutionalize of this very thing they call "coordination". We don't need ABIDe or more of the same - a powerless BMLTA, and BMTC, BBMP, BTP blaming each other. We don't need 3 ministers, several MLAs, several Babus, and several high profile activists to be runnign the ciy with no clear idea of where the buck should stop. We need closure on Kasturirangan committe report. Period.
• BTRAC is moving well, Mr Sood is proud of it, and expects improvements on corridors. A big new traffic management is in the works, we saw the designs of what looked like a traingle shaped building with interiors looking like a NOC or data center.
• Effective behavioral change is a long term project. Don't think Traffic Police is doing anything there right now, except some of their programs in working with the schools.
• We, as Praja, can monitor or even help with Mr Sood's teams wok on a selected corridor. Mr Sood said they are about to take up Kundalahalli to Trinity Circle corridor for improvements. I am game, if some more can join, lets watch it up close - what really they do, and how transparently.
• Mr Sood's team collects stats, and I asked for stats that will help us see if BTRAC etc actually have improved things. We should get all stats they collect and prepare some indices that can tell us whether a given corridor has worsened or improved in a given period of time. For example, I can see that Whitefield to J P Nagar drives have started taking less time, but Whitefield to Domlur commute takes much worse that it used to when HAL airport was operational. How do I explain this, and can I get some stats that will say the same thing that I experience. Without any real measurement, its all opinions, isn't it - has Bangalore gotten better, or worse in last one year?

All in all, felt good to meet Mr Sood. I admire any babu, IAS or IPS type who sounds enthusiastic and positive despite being in the thick of it all - misgiuded projects filled with lack of transparency.

• thumb_up 46 Likes
• · login or register to post comments

The meeting finally started at 2PM after a wait of 2hrs. Six of us were present after Devesh excused himself after getting Mr. Sood. Pranav started the ball rolling with a proposal of Praja being identified with one of the wards. Praveen felt that it would be better if Praja identifies with one of the Corridors of Bangalore instead.

The discussion was mainly around BTRAC analysis, enforcement, spreading awareness of Traffic hazards, sharing some hoardings space for spreading Traffic awareness with Praja among others. It was evident that Praveen was happy sharing most of the research and planning material with Praja. However a clear cut agenda of Praja interaction is yet to reveal itself.

Praveen was indicating that BMP is planning to construct 8 flyovers. However it was not clear what role was played by the traffic police in the decision process and the strategy in arriving at the numbers and their locations.

Praja was happy to note some of the significant contributions made by Traffic Police initiative in modification of many key junctions in Bangalore.

 

• thumb_up 47 Likes
• · login or register to post comments

One of the things that dawned on me is, beyond enforcement and junctions/signals. Much else is really governed by BBMP. BBMP is the organization that can put the infrastructure in place. The ACP does proactively work with organizations like BDA and BBMP to solve anything that smoothens traffic and causes less headache to his department, but he can only go as far as to suggest and propose. He showed us some good work being done by BTP at Banashankari. Regarding special drives. I am personally against having a drive for a specific period without being able to sustain it. It is not a best practice but considering the reality, s_yajaman and Silkboard proposed planned drives in conjunction with Ads to help in education and enforcement. I understand that the ACP is interested if we can take concrete proposals to him. Another pet issue I brought up is the standard of road markings. He agreed where we are, isnt even close to IRC standards which itself is way behind european standards. Couldnt press him on this any further as I was hungry and tired and had another personal appointment coming up at 5. Myself and SB had to split with the rest of the folks hurriedly even as Deepika was continuing to engage the ACP seperately. Systemic issues were not discussed. I have agreed on posts earlier and also with Devesh prior to the meeting that systemic issues do exist but I am not sure BTP is willing to share how much actually exists and how well we are placed to address it. We would do well to take up quick wins and demonstrate our committment. One of the things SB brought up is awareness in the public about the work being done by BTP is low. The ACP did mention they releasse to the press every sunday the good work being done but that rarely gets a mention. He is willing to link up to Praja website (dedicated micro-site) from BTP official site if we can host facts and figures he provides us. We may have to discuss this amongst ourselves and then provide him with a plan of action.

• thumb_up 47 Likes
• · login or register to post comments