The traffic scenario these days in cities is a cause for alarm, particularly so in the capital cities where the number of vehicles are multiplying at a pace but the roads have not increased correspondingly, making roads chaotic, congested and prone to accidents. Every year there is a tremendous increase in the number of vehicles possessed by people and with cheaper cars coming in, the up move is even sharper. The phenomenal growth of private car owners, given the increasing purchasing power of the elite classes as also the middle class and the decreasing prices of smaller vehicles, has contributed a great deal to the spiraling number of vehicles on the road. Correspondingly, a complacent government has been unable to either provide suitably planned roads, parking slots or a more effective traffic system.

Unfortunately, both the traffic planning and the cops manning the streets are ineffective in dealing with this crisis. Traffic congestion can’t be eased without efficient means of public transport. The roads are devoid of well trained cops and devices like traffic lights which could help in easing congestion a bit. Better planned roads, with road widening projects taking into consideration the future growth of traffic, removal of bottlenecks like gigantic roundabouts and the eternally present barricades put up by police in the name of security reasons, are some other significant steps that would help smooth flow of traffic. But more importantly, it is time to think in terms of future strategies to discourage this spiraling increase in the number of vehicles that do not only create congestion but also contribute a great deal in noise and air pollution.

All the increase in the vehicles will further increase the demand for petrol which is becoming rarer and more expensive by the day. The only feasible way to discourage this growth in number of vehicles is by improving the public means of transport, making them more commuter friendly and providing all the comforts including fully air conditioned buses and mini-buses. There is also need to ensure that every nook and comer of the city has access to public means of good, clean and comfortable transport. The nearest bus stop from any place should not be more than a five minutes’ walk. Adequate number of public means of transport on various routes would automatically check overloading and encourage those bogged down by the hassles of traffic through congested streets and hunting for parking slots to board the buses instead.

After all, it is not just the culture of flaunting new vehicles in this era of the affluent getting more and more prosperous that has encouraged people to buy cars and add to the congestion on the roads. Absence of good, viable means of public transport is more a discerning factor. If the worsening traffic scenario and the mushrooming growth of vehicles on the roads keep on continuing, it will soon become a major cause of worry. Collective efforts have to be put in and with a sense of immediacy.