It is said the world is frustrated because people spent most of their time in traffic jams ,says an expert in vehicular transport system. It is said traffic jams effect happiness, productivity and everything. Traffic jams is now one of the main factors for being unpunctual almost every crucial or trivial events in our life like getting late for schools,colleges,offices, meetings,weddings,appointments,worship places,conferences and so forth. Everywhere around the world the problem of traffic jams,congestions and road rage have become a part of everyday life. People dies on the way to hospitals stuck in traffic jams. With India’s vehicle population growing at the rate of 10-15% every year,it is said re-allocation of spaces is the only way out because space is finite.Let’s look at the cities around the world how they deal with this necessary menace if it may give us some new thought or inputs.Bangkok: Downtown Bangkok has 5 million people vehicles in a space that can accommodate only 2 millions. Skyways, express-ways,flyways and a 23 kilometre transit system have reduced jams by 40%. But with no restriction of new vehicles everyday on the roads,traffic problem still hasn’t sobered down.
Beijing: Legendary traffic woes have reduced by two hours per day post 2011 when the choked city restricted annual car registrations, introduced congestion tax and odd-even licence plate for some areas. Pollution too has reduced.
London: Charges daily congestion tax of 11.50 pounds for driving a vehicle within a charging zone. Greater London is a low emission zone throughout the year, encouraging diesel trucks and buses. Yes, parking is expensive.
Los Angeles: Has the worst traffic in the United States but the city is a classic example of using traffic technology solutions and sensors to control traffic. State is planning congestion pricing in express-lanes but LA’s infamous sub-ways remains clogged.
Mexico City: The BRT(Bus Rapid Transport) system in Mexico has helped reduce traffic blocks considerably as has paid, metered parking and targeted closures. Bike lanes have added to normal roads.
Moscow: Traffic in the Russian capital makes an average journey 66% longer during peak hours. Despite increasing the number of parking lots, developing public transport and road construction, Moscow has the worst traffic jams in the world.
New York City: Parking in New York is prohibitive,typically 550 dollars a month. Parking related fines are very high and strictly enforced. A greater reliance on mass transit and recession has led to a drop in traffic.
Paris: In 2002 Paris launched Quartier Verts – higher parking rates, lower on-street parking and the elimination of free parking altogether. The city tied these reforms to the introduction of residential parking permits,available for a nominal yearly fee.
Rio De Janeiro: The even-odd licence plate system has been effective in reducing mad congestions. Several parts of Rio have also been made auto free zones. Running out of gas is an infraction of the law,whether the immobilised vehicle is an obstacle for other traffic or not.
Singapore: The city-state follows vehicle quota system. A person buying a new car has to pay tax to the extent of 140% of the market value. Also has levied congestion charges for certain roads. But it’s Singapore you know.
To speak about new flyovers,skyways,metro-rails or ring-roads in our state seem only state next to impossible when we cannot even maintain our existing roads inspite of huge funds sent from the central government. Top on the list of the Union Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari is studying transport systems across the world to spruce up our own in India. Among the things he is working on is providing driving licences online to curtail time and corruption in our country and amending the Motor Vehicles Act. With Nagaland having a record of highest growth of vehicle in among the states in our country the town of Dimapur and Kohima now has a chronic traffic congestion during the rush hour which only seems to be getting worse. Absence of decent proper public transport system discourages commuters to use them. Acute shortage of parking spaces seems to be rising together with number of rising vehicle population. In Dimapur there is not even a junction which has not been made into an auto-parking space. Some parking lots of autos have stretches even into quarter of a kilometre. More sort of a nuisance it has become rather than a means of public convenience as there seems to be no limit in the issuance of permits. With the introduction of the new traffic system after the introduction the Police Commissionerate of Dimapur, things seem to have improved a lot, and our people also seems to be improving their civic sense too because of the new system. Even the unruly drivers are now following the traffic rules,thanks to the new system.But again the congestion question remains for how long because human population density together with vehicular population will be increasing while our spaces and narrow roads only seem to get narrower and pedestrians’ difficulty in walking in the little shoddy footpaths seems to be getting more of a harrowing session. R.C. Bhargava , Chairman of the Maruti India Suzuki limited stated that we have Motor Vehicles Act which is 30 Years behind time and when our neighbours like Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia also have improved their transport system while we have not yet. Time we also ponder seriously to solve this everyday menace which no one can seem to escape from because congestion hampers productivity,happiness and progress.
