BY Richa Dhodi
BANGALORE: The number of fatal and non-fatal cases in the city had reduced by 17% and 15% respectively in 2008 as compared to 2007.
Mohammad Sajjad Khan, traffic police inspector at Shivaji Nagar informed that in 2008 around 7159 fatal and non-fatal cases had been registered.
"Recent survey by the Bangalore Traffic states 793 fatal cases and 6366 non-fatal cases have been registered,” said Khan.
He further added that Bangalore traffic has changed due to the sudden rise in the vehicle population because of which, no planning can be provided. Moreover, according to him the 957 fatal cases and 7469 non-fatal cases registered in 2007 describe the “traumatic condition” of Bangalore traffic.
"But, this year some improvement could be seen," he added.
The citizens also seemed to be quite aware of the ever increasing city traffic and the violations of the traffic rules.
Adhisaral, nurse at the Manipal Hospital and a daily commuter of the Bangalore Municipal Transport Corporation said that every day she finds people jumping traffic signals. She also complained that she has witnessed many instances of drunken driving at nights and vehicles parked at No-Parking areas.
Sajjad Khan however, blamed the increase in vehicles as the prime reason for traffic problems.
"At the end of 2008, the vehicle pollution had increased by 22 percent in comparison to the year 2007," said Sajjad Khan.
M.N.Sreehari, Karnataka's Traffic Advisor said that there are specific areas in Bangalore recorded large numbers of fatal and non-fatal cases.
"K.R Pura is the heaviest zone with 595 cases",said Sreehari.
A traffic police constable ,K.R Puram said that the major accidents occur from 18.00 pm till 21.00pm.
Sreehari also added that large numbers of Heavy Traffic Vehicles (H.T.V) congest the roads. “ The road is also connected to Kolar District where there are no railways facilities," he said while referring to the Old Madras Road, which also connects Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
He also said that in Traffic East” hectic and heavy” Banaswadi, a ring road connecting to two highways NH4 and NH7 had 409 registered cases with the Bangalore Traffic police in 2008. While in Traffic West Byatrayanapura and Yashwantpur Road are heavy zones with 423 cases and 391 cases respectively reported in 2008.
M.N.Sreehari also said that the drop in percentage of non-fatal and fatal cases in 2008 is due to the increase in the number of traffic police and road safety measures adopted by the traffic department in the recent past.
"This year the strength of traffic police is increased to 2700 officials," added M.N Sreehari.
Richa Dhodi
Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media,
Bangalore 560 074.
Richa.Dhodi@gmail.com
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Could you please write an article on the growth of 2/3/4 wheeler vehicles in Bangalore over the last decade? You may have to find out the data from all the city's RTO's or maybe the State transport department that should be getting reports from all these RTO's. Why this article? Well, it can provide solid data to make a case for increasing the investments into public transport in Bangalore.
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