Flyover will have traffic jams from day one, says IISc study

 A technical study conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) based on the details publicised by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for the steel flyover shows that there will be traffic jams from the very first day of its operations. 

The study was conducted by Dr Ashish Verma, associate professor, Centre for Infrastructure Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning (CiSTUP), IISc. 

He  examined traffic movement in three scenarios: a) where the average vehicular growth is 4.75% as mentioned in the detailed project report (DPR) prepared by STUP Consultants Pvt Ltd for the BDA; b) considering the average traffic growth rate of 10.6%, replicating the average annual growth rate in airline passenger traffic for the Kempegowda International Airport in the last nine years, and c) based on the coarse-grained assumption that car-ownership (number of cars owned per 1,000 population) in Bengaluru has been doubling every five years along with traffic. 

The scenarios were applied to High Grounds and Mehkri Circle, the at-grade junctions along the proposed flyover. Each of the scenarios of road traffic was compared with the Metro plying on single- and double-track capacity. 

Verma explained that the growth rate of 4.75% was not only underestimated but also undermined the realistic trends as traffic at Mehkri Circle will increase twice the capacity when the steel flyover is completed. And if the 10.6% growth rate model is implemented, then the Metro will be a better option till 2048. 

Even with the assumption of very high rate of traffic growth, the Metro can serve better to the airport up to 2044 with even half of the passengers shifting to it. Verma suggested that the land acquired by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the right of way for the Metro along the tolled road be used.