CONTROLLING -TRAFIC JAMS -IN CITIES -?

In response to a call from TOI, Lucknow through their edition dated-3/1/15 repeated on 10/1/15, some suggestions on the subject matter in brief are given here under and also as help to control pollution.

-Number of vehicles on roads have increased many folds and the increase continues with a speed. This also includes BIG SIZED PERSONAL CARS which occupy space double to the ordinary four wheelers, sufficient to add to the already grave problems of rush. Putting a cap on purchase of new cars and total ban on further addition  to this category   may help.  Just now all vehicles including two wheelers are in general due to loans from banks and other many financing companies, which too have mushroomed the market and help in their purchase/ownership and movements on the roads. Controlling finances for the purpose may help in easing conditions .

- Most tempos/buses for greed of picking passengers, have developed tendencies to  park their  vehicles just at the Entry/Exit points of the lanes sufficient to block traffic flow. ( this observation is made in Lucknow city ) CONDITIONS AT OTHER CITIES TOO MAY BE SIMILAR ONLY. All such vehicles must be forced to park at least about 10 meters away from such points.

-  Many three wheelers  who used  to pick up  passengers on share basis, some in greed to earn more, at least  near the railways Stations,  refuse to go on share basis and instead quote higher rates for full. This also creates harassment to the passengers.  To cope up with this problem, all these three wheelers must be painted with the area these are  required to operate as well as whether these are available  on share  basis. Those permitted to operate on  Full Basis also can be specifically mentioned on such vehicles. Those marked to take passengers on share basis if  quote to move full basis only, such ones  must be made  liable to punishment.

- On Railway crossings where over head bridges have been constructed now, many existing  manual operated crossings have been closed. This is like giving one facility  while at the same time withdrawing the other existing one. Then manually operated rickshaws too exist  in our cities, who have to put in unneeded extra labour to venture upon the over bridges which also cause hindrance in free movement of fast moving vehicles on these  bridges. Therefore the suggestion is that roads under these  over-bridges should be kept opened for light/ manual operated Rickshaws/bicyles  as well as for pedestrians. This besides giving an additional passage would also reduce the incidence of accidents.

 Hundreds of impounded vehicles starting from two wheelers /three wheelers /cars and even big sized public/goods carriers remain parked in the Thanas  for years together awaiting their disposals. In the meantime for want of space inside the Thanas many are forced to be left on the roads ,thus encroaching upon the already congested  roads and creating inconveniences to all . This aspect too need  be taken care of, sooner the better.

 To control parking of vehicles on roads/in the market places, some underground or otherwise parking spaces have been provided, but most do not make use of such facilities and instead  leave their vehicles otherwise only just to save parking charges and also fearing loss of time in making payments and  getting payment slips. As remedy the system of charging a LUMP SUM FEE at the time of purchase of  new vehicle, and on yearly basis for the existing ones by  pasting charges slips on the body of vehicles itself, so as to make it easily visible to the persons manning the parking slots. Those who do not wish to pay on yearly basis can then be forced to pay at the time of parking. For all this more parking spaces, easy to move need be provided.

 Crossings on the roads can be made more easily movable with provisions of traffic police at all crossings. This will help control on undisciplined drivers as well rowdies on the roads.  In all those areas which have been chosen as NO PARKING Zones sufficient number of such indicators must be displayed so that public may be aware of such places. It may also be kept in mind that near all NO PARKING zones sufficient parking spaces must be provided for the facility to the public in general. It has been observed that from many places vehicles have been toed by the police while neither there are any indicators displayed as “NO PARKING” nor there are any parking facilities nearby, this virtually amounts to un necessary  harassment to the public.

With all these use of bicycles need be encouraged/ rather forced starting with students of all grades from class 8^th to the highest literacy levels/ small time workers/technicians & labourers. This will also prove good for health and a check on pollution at least to this extent.

Demonstrations/agitations by one or the other group has become a very  regular feature that too on busy roads, resulting in road blocks/rush/congestions. Decision to ban all such activities on busy roads may help. Rather for all such activities providing some place outside the city boundaries may help in  ease of conditions.

Roads which get broken and bumpy on regular basis are then very often under repairs, which result in slowing and diversion of traffic. Then with each repair, some more inches of thickness is added  to the existing ones, which results in the present buildings going down the road levels, sufficient for water logging during rains. Then venturing on roads from such lower levels many a times results in accidents. This aspect of road maintenance  needs attention of the system for enforcing corrections giving this one a top priority also in order to save upon wastage of Natural resources and sarkari dhan  with each repair.    

As a long term measure, control on increase in population by enforcing  WE TWO, OURS  not more than TWO and also control over excessive consumerism may ease the conditions . RDAgarwal-A-86 Indira Nagar- Lucknow  15.01.15

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