Rush hour in the city is a nightmare. And the long wait at signals is not helping matters. But with this new initiative, if things go as per plan, commuters will not have to wait a few excruciating seconds more. News is that traffic signals will turn red or green based on traffic volume at each point. The Bengaluru City Traffic Police have decided to replace all fixed time signals with adaptive ones. This means that commuters will not have to spend those few frustrating seconds waiting for traffic signals to turn green. We find out what city-based commuters feel.
A city-based student, Ankitha Jayaram feels that the initiative will be appreciated, “This initiative will be a relief for commuters who are in a hurry to reach their destination. Every second counts when one is late, and waiting for a signal to turn green can become frustrating. We belong to a generation that is impatient. It may aid in quick movement of traffic. But a con of this initiative can be accumulation of traffic at other signals.”
It could be successful to a certain extent, feels Renjith Babu, a banker, who adds, “This is a good initiative, but in terms of feasibility, it might not be successful. When basic traffic signal rules are not followed, I really don’t know if people will accept such an initiative. People need to be taught to obey basics rules first. The success or failure of this project depends fully on how it is accepted by commuters.”
It can be a relief for office- goers as it gets them through the rush hour without frustration. K Suhasini, a student, says, “I think this would be a great move if implemented as people will get relief from long minutes of hustling in huge traffic signal points. I think the feasibility of this initiative depends on the people. People should be aware of this initiative and the way in which it works. This project would need a lot of trial and error done before hand. A proper survey on the people’s opinion towards this initiative needs to be done.”
City-based sociologist Sandeep Anirudhan feels, “On the face of it, it sounds like a good idea but we would have to use some mapping tools to see if it translates into real benefits. It will work fine, if the traffic incidence is predictable. When the road is chock-a-blocked with traffic in both directions, it’s never going to end. It cannot be a solution to anything. It can be one of those things added to a strategy. And the proper strategy would be multi-modal transport, good interconnectivity, huge focus on public transport. Dependence should shift from private mode of transport to public transport, making the number of private vehicles in the city less. Make public transport more accessible and dependable and only then such initiatives can be implemented.”
