Paradox of urban growth -imperfect Planning?

The paradox of urban growth is creating Crisis in Cities. We have to view the problems in India in the global context, and have to arrive at short and medium term solutions based on the experiments and experiences of other countries.

While we should examine the global problem of urban transportation and the resultant consequences, and see as to how we can discover our own ways and means to cope up with compulsions. Developing nations where cities have sprung rather suddenly against planned cities in developed countries, have to make frantic effort to re-schedule the gaps in planning for organized growth.

The Government of India conceived quadrangular National Highways, with the corridors from east to west (Konkan coast to Coromandal Coast), and North to South (Kashmir to Kanyakumari). Ministry of Surface Transport, has identified the National Highways for relaying and in the XI Five Year Plans, 20 Kms of National Highways was proposed for construction which eventually would create 7000 Kms of National Highway every year. The standard requirement of right of way (RoW) for National Highway (NH) development projects have been proposed as 45 meters. In the metro Kochi, there is a Broadway, which was once upon a time the broadest way in Ernakulam (Kochi). But today, only two line traffic with over- stretched driving on the pedestrian layouts would enable two cars in both directions to drive along the Broadway. The 70 feet Road which came later was viewed as one of the biggest road lanes in Ernakulam, Kochi. Today, when 8 line traffic is the order of the day in most developed cities, this pales into insignificance in comparison. There has been resistance from merchants in Kerala on widening of the present National High which hardly can manage two lanes, one for to and another for fro. In no other state, the National Highways are so narrow, that the traffic has to snarl at important junctions to the towns. The State PWD had asked NHAI to reduce the requirement of right of way to 30 meters from the proposed 45 meters. The NHAI has cancelled the four laning of the NH 47 stretch from Cherthala to Kazhakuttam. The busy 200 Km NH 47 was to be converted into four lanes in two stretches, the first stretch from Cherthala to Ochaira and the Second from Oachira to Kazhakuttam at a cost of Rs 4,700 Cr. The State Government had contended that a width of 45 meters was too heavy a demand in a densely populated state like Kerala (population density of 819 per Sq Kms). But the load on a 30 metre wide road cannot at the first place have a four lane traffic space, and secondly, the capacity of roads to carry traffic has to be in tune with the standards laid down. Each Road has capacity, and if the capacity is exceeded, it would cause wear and tear. The specific problem of Kerala has been unplanned growth of cities in Kerala, insufficient lung space for laying of wide roads, and the traffic not proportional to the weight that Roads can carry. A 12 tonne lorry should normally carry a load of around 11 tonnes. But it is often seen that the lorry carries weight to the extent of 15 tonnes. This affects the spring plates, the tyre made of natural rubber+synthetic rubber, whose life comes down tremendously, and has impact on the life of Roads (Highways). Haywire in planning, political clout, and unplanned cities do not allow smoothening of urban transport. Horse drawn carriage, sophisticated car or mass transit system would ease congestion, regulate orderly transport, removing impediments to mobility, will make a mega city an asset rather than a liability. Fast growing vehicle population, density of high flow of traffic in a particular area, scarcity of space, deteriorating environment and the problems of encroachments have to be tackled politically, if the cities, mega cities, metropolitan cities have to grow.

The status of our road infrastructure either clogged with too many vehicles finding their way through haphazard parking, or dug up for reason few would be aware of. When a vehicle sporting red flash right overtakes the cars that are in the queue crawling with impatience. Infrastructure is more than a sea wall or a software park. It does not make any difference even when you are inside your house, by ensuring predictability in the supply of essential services such as power and water. Infrastructure comes under stress and at times, breaks down in times of crisis.

A system’s approach to traffic planning and management is absolutely necessary. While developing a traffic system management, the key should be identification of the problem areas and focus on sub area activities in tune with the nature and composition of the area. Depending upon the type of traffic-pedestrian, MRTS, taxi, auto, cars, buses, bicycles, and the system should be designed. The hawkers on the edges of the roads or pavements must be properly rehabilitated at permanent areas ear-marked for them, and given licenses to run their business from interference from the law enforcement agencies, and pedestrians should have enough pathways for them to walk without spilling over to the Road, etc. Bus bays must be constructed so that parking of buses at undesignated stops which obstruct traffic, have to be designed. Lane reversal and flexibility mechanism, linked to flow of traffic, need to be tried. When the peak hour flow of traffic is into the City or the business district, the meridian could be adjusted to open three lanes, leaving just one for the opposite direction. In the evening, this can be reversed.

There has been a big cry about wanting Metro to take care of Kochi's traffic woes. Whether it is through Public spending, or PPP model, such a metro is not possible in Kochi. When planning the satellite towns like Ambalamedu, Chottanikkara, Edappaly, Kalamassery, if the Kochi Corporation or for that matter GCDA could have planned arterial sataellite towns in a planned way, leaving the approaches so that transportation could have been possible. as it is, we have narrow roads, less width National High ways, unusaable State High ways, panchayat roads, etc are in pitiable condition. When there is loud pandamonium for stretching the NH to 45 meters, how could you go for metro. Where are the artiel roads or points?

We need to copy the developed system that is prevalent in Singapore. Road discipline, reducing the number of vehicles plying on the road at peak times, pooling of cars, transport systems, popularizing cycles like in China, would reduce the over dependence of vehicles, reducing pollution, high use of petrol/diesel, extended cost, wear and tear of roads. Urban planning need to be methodological, economic and scientific.