Bangaluru

Bangalore has witnessed phenomenal spurt with the rapid growth in the IT industry and other job opportunities in the city. This is exploding vehicle numbers. Vehicle growth rate has exceeded population growth rate. Cars today are as much as 90 per cent of the total registered vehicles in the city.  Traffic volume has exceeded the designed capacity of the roads. Peak hour travel speed has dropped to 15 km per hour. There is barely any space left to park cars. Public transport is fighting for road space. The city needs urgent mobility transition.

Air and mobility facts

Vehicle: Galloping numbers

How people travel?
Maximum people are on foot, pedals, buses and autos

Public action:

Policy action

1. CIVIC Bangalore

First generation action has taken roots. The city has yet to meet the clean air standards. Policy decisions and action so far in the city

Action on vehicles

1. The city has introduced Bharat Stage Euro IV norms for vehicles in 2010

1. In exercise of powers under Sec 19 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Act 1981 the entire state was declared as air pollution control area by the department of Forest, Ecology & Environment on 30.05.88

2. The state government of Karnataka has issued a notification in December 2004 to state that all autos must convert to Bi-fuel/LPG mode. By June 2006 all autos will be converted to Bi-fuel mode/LPG.  Auto LPG dispensing facility created in the city.

3. Pre-mix oil dispensers for 2 stroke 2 & 3 wheelers and to ban sale of loose 2T oil.

4. Supply of 5 % ethanol blended petrol since 9 May,.2003.

5. Implementation of upgraded PUC norms and test procedure

6. Introduction of commuter friendly buses

7. Strict inspection for renewal of fitness certificate under the supervision of senior officers

8. Painting red strip around the body of more than 15 years old transport vehicles for easy identification.

9. Vehicles not loading and unloading in the city are made to move on outer ring road only. Movement of goods vehicles inside the outer rind road is restricted during day time.

10. Green tax has been introduced with effect from April 1,.2002 for the transport vehicles aged more than 7 years at the rate of Rs.200/- at the time of renewal. Green tax is also being levied on all 15 year old two wheelers and also on other than two wheeler non-transport vehicles at the rate of Rs.250/- and Rs.500/- respectively at the time of renewal registration.

11. The movement of inter-state and inter-city buses has been prohibited on 8 roads in Bangalore city. Bus terminal is being developed on Mysore road and is intended to operate number of schedules going towards Mysore directly from that terminal to decongest the city centre

12. To reduce traffic congestion, 108 roads converted to one-way, 5 flyovers, 3 railway under pass on outer ring road and 2 railway over bridges completed. 206 km of road asphalted. But such strategies would need assessment.  

13. Stricter drives to check adulteration of the fuel Food and Civil Supplies Department. The department has reported that 309 fuel stations have been checked during April to July 2003.

Action in industry

• Department of Ecology and Environment has issued Notification No.FEE 120 ECO 2002. Dt. 16.03.04 for mandatory use of 0.05% Sulphur containing HSD by industries located within ORR limits in DG sets and liquid fuelled boilers. The industries are also required to furnish an affidavit that they are using HSD containing 0.05% sulphur only in DG Sets, boilers etc.

CIVIC Bangalore

CIVIC Bangalore set up in 1992, by a group of individuals from diverse background -- business, development and social sciences, academic and professional; -- asked the question: How can we make Bangalore a better place? Their activity is largely voluntary in nature. CIVIC’s priorities are inclusive, transparent and participatory governance.

Attempt to empower urban local bodies in Karnataka to become genuine institutions of local self-governance by enabling citizens to press for greater devolution of powers to these bodies, and the setting up of institutions such as the Metropolitan Planning Committee in Bangalore.

CIVIC Bangalore, was recognized as an Urban Forum for Bangalore by UN-ESCAP in 1994. They have created a Stakeholder Forum for Bangalore.