Report on B/P-ToI Mobility event

Though announced to start at 10 AM, the event (Times of India’s ‘Bangalore Patrol’ public meet held at Shree Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain college on J C Road, on Sunday, the 28th Nov - ToI report may be accessed here) started only at around 10.45 AM. And, apparently going by the learnings at the meeting on Water-supply & Sewerage issues (on 21st Nov, check this), Mr Balram, the ToI chief editor, and moderator of the show, decided to first ask the panelists to address the gathering, one by one, after a brief introduction by the sub-editor, Asha Rai. That took up all the time, and, even as the clock struck 12, there were two more speakers remaining to give their address. The gathering became restive, and even as Mr H Ravindra, Chairman, BBMP Major Works standing committee, was talking about having completed the foot-overbridge near the Sophia school (Basaveswara circle) in record time, many of them stood up and started accusing the authorities of having constructed something that was totally user unfriendly, and with only the 'ad visibility factor' in mind check this). Even as Mr Ravindra mumbled something in response, Mr Balram sensed the overall mood, and decided to take up the questions from the public. Now, here again, though ToI readers had been invited to send in their questions by mail, there was no talk about them at all. Instead, the questions that were sent in at the venue, on paper slips that were provided by the volunteers, were alone taken up, and selectively. And, with very little time remaining, not many questions came up for discussion, leaving the invitees a lot frustrated.

Whatever, Mr Balram appears to have considered my question on what the BBMP was doing with regard to 'the repeat Supreme Court orders to have all places of worship coming in the way of traffic and pedestrians removed/ re-located (check this)' worthy enough to be taken up first. In response, Mr Ravindra came up with the same old excuse that it was a 'sensitive matter'. Even as I wanted to tell him that 'leadersip was all about convincing the people that the court had already gone into all those matters and then issued the orders, and therefore, there was no option other than to comply', Mr Balram had switched to the next question.

The highlights of the addresses, made earlier, by the panelists, as far as I am concerned, were as below:

Ms Swati, Janaagraha: Briefly explainly some details of the exercise undertaken. It's accuracy may be questionable. But, even if it's 50% accurate, it is enough of a set of data, if the powers that be want to start addressing the associated problems. To that extent, the job merits appreciation.

Excerpts from the ToI report on her speech - While making a pitch for the introduction of mini buses into the city public transport service, Swati Ramanathan, cofounder Janaagraha, was of the opinion, “Access and connectivity are the two crucial issues in planning any public transport mechanism. The scores on Bangalore Patrol are very important in bring about the much needed change in the system.’’

Mr Praveen Sood, Addl Commr, Traffic:
Excerpts from the ToI report on his speech (accessible here): Vexed about the frequent traffic jams, the public also suggested a way out through a possible ‘congestion fee’ across the city. “This is a complex issue. It will sure work but we have to introduce a parking fee first. When parking is paid, people will think 10 times before taking their vehicles out. But people are unwilling to pay even Rs 10 for parking their vehicle the whole day even in areas like MG Road. Only after the parking fee becomes a reality can be think of a congestion fee for it makes no sense to charge one for bringing a vehicle onto the road if you then are not going to charge for parking it on the road,” explained Praveen Sood.

Sood believes that Bangalore’s traffic is not about jams as much as parking. As he memorably said at the meeting,”Sometimes I feel Bangalore really has no traffic problems. It has only parking problems. Traffic in a city is not a function of the traffic department alone. There are multiple agencies involved. A lack of co-ordination among the concerned agencies is a concern, as it aggravates the problem.’’

Well, the case is building up for resumption of parking fee levy.

He was all for more buses on the road. “Public transport is always welcome. One bus takes 50 private vehicles off the road.” He admitted that the issue of poor pedestrian infrastructure in the city is a matter of serious concern. But he also pointed out that people are loathe to use the infrastructure that’s available.

hear, hear!!!

Asked about people of residential areas taking charge of parking in their locations — a suggestion of Swati Ramanathan’s — he was more than willing to let local area people issue tickets for parking and regulate it themselves after following due procedures. “But it’s not possible for the traffic department to provide them with security,” he cautioned. He felt that if the Brigade Road Traders’ association could take charge of parking on that road, there’s no reason others couldn’t.

Does the Koramangala Federation want to take it on?

Traders of CMH road were also at the meeting to discuss their parking woes. “There’s no space to park at all. Is this what we get after last three years of adjustment for the Metro? What’s the use of widening it and making it two way with no parking? Parking is critical considering the road is a commercial area,’’ they asked. Sood’s reply was simple, “You cannot have everything: footpaths, two way traffic with buses and parking.” However, he asked CMH road residents to submit a detailed proposal with a feasible solution, that could be considered.

Here there's a conflict of interest with those of the pedestrians, like Swati very correctly pointed out - check this

Mr Syed Zameer Pasha, MD, BMTC:
Excerpts from the ToI report on his speech: Kiss goodbye to tickets, bus passes and such other routine transactions that add time to your daily commute. Like many big metros across the world, Bangalore starting April 2011 will introduce a single card that can be used across public transport. The common mobility card system envisioned by GoI, in early stages of introduction, will cover BMTC and Bangalore Metro services across city. Shortly thereafter, these cards will also include access to public transport services ‘anywhere across the country’. “It will be a comprehensive package based on GPS-based passenger information system, electronic ticketing machines for conductors, validators and an effective GPRS tracking system to monitor all vehicles,’’ explained BMTC MD Syed Zameer Pasha. BMTC has also entered into an agreement with UTI Technology Services Lltd, to implement the common mobility card. “Presently, there are some clearances awaited from the state government. Once cleared, the system should be in place by April 1, 2011. All 6,000 buses will be covered within eight months to one year,’’ Pasha added.

Well, one card from GoI, another from BMTC? Whatever, I am not too optimistic about all of these working - check this. The BMTC should perhaps concentrate on getting its basic act together first - direction-oriented routing, to begin with - check this


Mr Bhaskar Rao, Transport Commissioner:
Excerpts from the ToI report on his speech - Bhaskar Rao, commissioner for transport and road safety,readily admitted,”The transport department at the lower levels is very corrupt. Supervision and manpower are our main challenge areas. My department needs 300 motor vehicle inspectors of which I have only 40. Institutionally, we are also poor in road safety. Driving schools also contribute to road safety concerns. They teach the ABC (accelerator, break, clutch) rule, get you a license on paying Rs 1,000 that also turns adds a killer on the road.

He is once again harping on corruption in the lower rungs of his department - continuation from where he had left off over a year ago (check this). I can't understand how better the higher rung can be when they have allowed the situation to remain unchanged for so long - in fact, all through his tenure. Adding more inspectors is only going to make things worse. And, as to his complaint about the 'driving school mafia', the question that arises is why can't he use the powers he is bestowed with to put them in their place, instead of narrating his difficulties to us.

On top of it all, he went on to say that, between Mr Sood and him, they had recommended to the government to issue an additional 15,000 licenses for auto's to meet the increased demand. The 'Janata' coouldn't take it any more, and many of them rose to their feet questioning the wisdom behind such a move. But, with Mr Balram intervening saying that he was limiting the questioning to the end, Mr Rao got away, at least for then. Eventually, with all the time wastage, the matter could not be taken up for a comprehensive debate, leaving me to write this blog.

And, as if all of that was not enough, our friend then went on to reiterate this new-found theory about how BMTC operations need not be profitable, and it should be allowed to expand its fleet and meet all kind of needs, whether profitable or not. Now, this is a theory being bandied about quite a few 'experts' of recent. I would like to challenge it saying that a subsidy regime is required only when other options are not available, and, even then, it should be only for a limited period, failing which you will land up promoting all kinds of artificialities. Here, very clearly, there's the option of efficient operations, which the organised private sector can provide, and as such, the subsidy regime is uncalled for.

All in all, Mr Bhaskar Rao's credibility rating is on a continued, and now steep, decline.

Mr H Ravindra, Chairman, BBMP Major Works:
Excerpts from the ToI report on his speech (accessible here) - Small, localized solutions to solve the city’s parking problems are gaining ground. BBMP’s long-delayed multi-level parking scheme is set to take off on small sites offering parking for about 40 four-wheelers in each location.

His first consideration should perhaps be resumption of levy of parking charges

Mr Ashwin Mahesh, Member, Abide:
Excerpts from the ToI report on his speech - Saying stop-gap technical solutions are not the route to solve serious transportation problems, Ashwin Mahesh, urban expert and ABIDe member said, “Traffic problem in the city is not a problem of vehicles on the road or of parking on the roads. It’s a housing problem. Mobility simply means travel from home to work or school or to business. We haven’t built adequate social infrastructure like schools, hospitals across the city. So people make inefficient choices that leads to traffic jams and other related issues. Hence an integrated approach is required and not piece meal technical solutions.”

yes - very relevant

Muralidhar Rao