The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Autos will make way for small cars: Ravindra

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Thursday, Sep 11, 2008
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Autos will make way for small cars: Ravindra

Staff Reporter

‘Bangalore has not been able to restrict use of private vehicles’

Government unable to control rise in the number of vehicles
‘It would be forced to give subsidy to autorickshaw drivers’

BANGALORE: With the increase in the number of personal vehicles and threat of influx of low-cost cars such as Nano, the Government will be forced to replace autorickshaws with the low-cost cars.

This was how the former Chief Secretary A. Ravindra, who is a member of Agenda for Bangalore Infrastructure Development (ABIDE), said the piquant situation was facing the Government, which was unable to control the increase in the number of personal vehicles.

“On the one hand, the Government is promoting automobiles, while on the other hand it is restricting people from using personal vehicles,” he said.

Speaking on “Integrated transport planning,” at the two-day Bangalore Transportation Summit on Wednesday, Mr. Ravindra said that unlike London which had been able to control use of private vehicles, Bangalore had not been able to restrict the use of private vehicles.

The situation would worsen with low-cost cars such as Nano coming to the market.

The State Government would be forced to give subsidy to autorickshaw drivers and make them use cars instead of their vehicles, Mr. Ravindra said.

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner S. Subramanya expressed his displeasure over the state of infrastructure of the city.

Criticising his own department, Mr. Subramanya said the urban body had not been able to provide space for parking.

“Parking has gone to the care of pavement,” Mr. Subramanya said referring to the condition of vehicles being parked on pavements.

“For a long time, we have been focusing on movement of vehicles by neglecting the difficulties of pedestrians,” he said.

Mr. Subramanya was critical over the encroachment of pavements by shopkeepers in market areas. He said the structure of the footbridge made it difficult for people to use it.

Director (Project and Planning) of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation B.S. Sudhir Chandra made a presentation of the metro rail construction in the city. He said the BMRCL had sought the advice of National Institute of Rock Mechanics in Kolar about the way they should control blasting to prevent effect of vibrations on Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha and Karnataka High Court.

Transport Minister R. Ashok and Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao spoke.

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