PROPOSED TUNNEL ROAD PROJECT
As India’s Silicon Valley battles gridlock, it is turning to new ideas.
These include deploying more than 300 artificial intelligence-enabled cameras to better manage traffic and launching apps to help commuters plan their journeys on the public transport system.
A proposed tunnel road also aims to ease Bengaluru’s traffic woes by creating an underground route linking key parts of the city.
The project promises to decongest major roads and offer commuters a faster way through the city’s crowded routes.
Yet, debates are intensifying over whether mass transit – and not personal vehicles – holds the key to easing the city’s notorious traffic.
Last Tuesday (Oct 28), Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stressed that mobility decisions cannot ignore social realities.
He was responding to several suggestions made by Bengaluru South Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya to ease congestion, including prioritising Metro expansion over the tunnel road project.
“People prefer to travel in their own vehicles with their families. Can we prevent them from using their cars?” he said.
“If needed, MPs can appeal to their constituents to leave their cars at home and use public transport. Let us see how many actually follow that.”
