Metro motorists turn Bengaluru into a Parkistan
SPILLING OVER: Although Metro has helped decongest the city, motorists who have no concern for others park their vehicles in a haphazard manner around stations; (below) scenes from MG Road
Highlights
- Lack of parking space in every station leading to anarchy
- Bengaluru traffic police chief says maximum number of parking violations happen near Metro stations which is adding to the chaos on city’s roads
By Reya Mehrotra
In 2009-10, N Sivasailam, the former MD ofBMRCL , held an interaction with a group of journalists in Bengaluru before Namma Metro was to begin operations. He was asked if parking would be made available at all Metro stations. Sivasailam was adamant: “I will not let Bengaluru’s Metro stations become parking lots like they have in Delhi,” he said, adding that the huge parking lots in Delhi were being used by traders in nearby areas and not by commuters.
His response and strategy made a lot of sense then but seems to be coming back to haunt Bengaluru now.
As Bengaluru’s Metro reach has grown since it started operations in the city, hundreds of thousands of commuters use it every day and that number is only growing. While the Metro shaves off daily commute time, one of its biggest downsides is the lack of parking at many stations. Commuters are forced to park their bikes and cars on streets around the Metro station and pray that they’re not towed away.
The merits of parking lots
The Addl CP (Traffic) feels that not only will parking spaces at the Metro station add to first and last mile connectivity, it will also boost the use of public transport. In fact allocation of parking spaces must be done at the early stage of Metro station design, says Harishekaran.
The Addl CP (Traffic) feels that the lack of parking spaces at all Metro stations has been resulting in carelessly parked vehicles on roads adjacent to the stations, leading to traffic bottlenecks. “Out of the various traffic related issues that the traffic police department is dealing with, lack of parking is a major issue. Currently out of the 78 lakh vehicular population in Bengaluru, 53 lakh are two-wheelers, which facilitate first and last mile connectivity to various Metro and bus stations. Hence parking must be made available for people at all Metro stations so that they can park their two wheelers safely and take public transport,” he says.
The traffic police want these facilities so that traffic can be managed better. Parking in no-parking zones is the most common issue that the traffic police deal with every day. In 2018 alone, BTP booked 10,86,844 cases for wrongful parking and 32,423 cases for parking on the footpath. The traffic police also say that most of the wrongly parked vehicles are found near metro stations.
Parking lots are too few
Currently, out of the 42 metro stations in the city, parking spaces for two wheelers have been made available at nine locations on the purple line (East West corridor) and at 12 locations on the green line (North South corridor) while parking for four wheelers has been made available at seven locations on the purple line and at 10 locations on the green line.
Talking toBangalore Mirror, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) CPRO BL Yashavanth Chavan says, “Currently, parking is available at Baiyappanahalli station, Mysore Road station, Magadi Road station on the East-West corridor and at Yelachenahalli station, National College station, Mahalakshmi metro station, Jalahalli metro station and Nagasandra metro stations, to name a few. In future, if other parking spaces are planned during construction, we will notify the public.”
Not all stations need parking
Professor Ashish Verma from Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) believes that not all metro stations need parking spaces and whether to include aparking space or not should be strategically decided during the design stage. “Stations must be designed in a way that they complement the use of public transport and facilities such as park and ride. Parking facilities at all Metro stations would encourage the use of personal vehicles as people will get a chance to park their vehicles. Through the current system of bicycles and two wheelers for public use, people can use them for first and last mile connectivity. To reach congested areas, commuters can use public transport. It makes no sense for Metro stations like MG Road and Trinity Circle to have parking lots as these areas are already congested. In fact parking at such stations which lie in the heart of the city defeats the purpose of public transport and the park and ride facilities. The bus feeder services must mandatorily be made available at Metro stations that lie on the outskirts of the city.”
He says that parking at Metro stations in other countries has been strategically planned and made available only where it’s needed and not in congested areas. Earlier this month, BMRCL launched Bounce, keyless scooters for easy and affordable commute, to provide last mile connectivity at all Metro stations. Bicycles are also available at all Metro stations to enhance last mile connectivity. Apart from this, Bangalore Metropolitan Corporation Limited (BMTC) too has introduced Metro feeder buses this year, covering 17 Metro stations at a frequency of 15-30 minutes and running 1981 trips with 159 schedules.
In 2009-10, N Sivasailam, the former MD of
His response and strategy made a lot of sense then but seems to be coming back to haunt Bengaluru now.
As Bengaluru’s Metro reach has grown since it started operations in the city, hundreds of thousands of commuters use it every day and that number is only growing. While the Metro shaves off daily commute time, one of its biggest downsides is the lack of parking at many stations. Commuters are forced to park their bikes and cars on streets around the Metro station and pray that they’re not towed away.
If you’re a Metro commuter and have rued the lack of parking, Additional Commissioner of Traffic P Harishekaran is on your side. Harishekaran is making a case for having adequate parking at all Metro stations. He should know because maximum violations of wrongful parking happen near metro stations since no parking is available.
The merits of parking lots
The Addl CP (Traffic) feels that not only will parking spaces at the Metro station add to first and last mile connectivity, it will also boost the use of public transport. In fact allocation of parking spaces must be done at the early stage of Metro station design, says Harishekaran.
Lack of parking is a major issue. Of 78 lakh vehicular population in Bengaluru, 53 lakh are two-wheelers which facilitate connectivity to Metro and bus stations. Hence, parking must be made available for people at all Metro stations
The Addl CP (Traffic) feels that the lack of parking spaces at all Metro stations has been resulting in carelessly parked vehicles on roads adjacent to the stations, leading to traffic bottlenecks. “Out of the various traffic related issues that the traffic police department is dealing with, lack of parking is a major issue. Currently out of the 78 lakh vehicular population in Bengaluru, 53 lakh are two-wheelers, which facilitate first and last mile connectivity to various Metro and bus stations. Hence parking must be made available for people at all Metro stations so that they can park their two wheelers safely and take public transport,” he says.
The traffic police want these facilities so that traffic can be managed better. Parking in no-parking zones is the most common issue that the traffic police deal with every day. In 2018 alone, BTP booked 10,86,844 cases for wrongful parking and 32,423 cases for parking on the footpath. The traffic police also say that most of the wrongly parked vehicles are found near metro stations.
Currently, out of the 42 metro stations, nine locations on the Purple line (East West corridor) and 12 locations on the Green line (North South corridor) have two-wheeler parking while, four wheeler parking is available at seven locations on the Purple line and 10 locations on the Green line
Parking lots are too few
Currently, out of the 42 metro stations in the city, parking spaces for two wheelers have been made available at nine locations on the purple line (East West corridor) and at 12 locations on the green line (North South corridor) while parking for four wheelers has been made available at seven locations on the purple line and at 10 locations on the green line.
Talking to
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Not all stations need parking
Professor Ashish Verma from Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) believes that not all metro stations need parking spaces and whether to include a
He says that parking at Metro stations in other countries has been strategically planned and made available only where it’s needed and not in congested areas. Earlier this month, BMRCL launched Bounce, keyless scooters for easy and affordable commute, to provide last mile connectivity at all Metro stations. Bicycles are also available at all Metro stations to enhance last mile connectivity. Apart from this, Bangalore Metropolitan Corporation Limited (BMTC) too has introduced Metro feeder buses this year, covering 17 Metro stations at a frequency of 15-30 minutes and running 1981 trips with 159 schedules.
