How to manage traffic congestion?
- M.K.Stalin
Recent studies have shown that half of the world population had to live in urban areas. Over ages the phenomenon of rural people migrating to urban areas seeking economic development and in expectation of new employment opportunities had been going on. However, in the present times of globalization, multinational corporations and domestic industrial companies are setting up their new units on vast areas adjacent to cities and town, thereby creating new employment opportunities. Hence the process of migration towards urban areas has accelerated.
The capital city of Chennai for years had been attracting rural people. People every day are storming towards Chennai for various reasons like government and private employment opportunities, industrial and commercial development, opportunities in the field of arts, higher education etc., Bearing in mind the resultant population congestion Chief Minister Kalaignar, as much back in 1970s itself, formulated schemes and implemented them to face traffic congestion in Chennai.
The Anna Over bridge on Anna Salai in Chennai bears the best testimony for his efforts. Realizing beforehand the probable traffic congestion in Chennai after 30 years, the Anna Over bridge built by Kalaignar in early 1970s is now having the capacity to face city’s traffic flow. As other roads in Chennai were also developing like Anna Salai, 9 flyovers were constructed during my Mayoralty of Chennai between 1996 and 2001 under DMK rule in the State. Traffic congestion to a great extent has been averted in these areas including Royapuram, Purasawalkam, Egmore, Royapettah and Adyar. Now Chennai Corporation authorities have undertaken flyover construction works in areas like Kodambakkam and Thyagaraya Nagar. Along with these works, when the works on construction of flyovers, undertaken by Nationla Highways authorities of the Central government in which the DMK is a constituent, at Guindy Kathipara junction and Koyambedu are completed, the traffic congestion of the city will be averted totally.
Although the flyovers constructed in the heart of the city and bypass roads laid around the city will reduce the problem to an extent, only the extension of the city will yield total result. Chief Minister Kalaignar has been urging this. It was Kalaignar who began in 1970s itself the process of relieving Chennai from scarcity of space by forming Slum Clearance Board, a pioneer step in the country. Considering the present phase of development, the DMK government has undertaken efforts to set up satellite cities. The scarcity for space in the heart of city will be averted when such satellite cities are formed in suburban areas and important government and private sector offices are shifted there. The DMK government which has undertaken these schemes and procedures, for implementing them, has also formulated relief measures which will ensure people and farmlands in suburban areas remain unaffected. Construction of new flyovers, subways and pedestrian over bridges with escalators within the city, laying bypass roads around the city and setting of satellite cities in suburban areas are the only means to relieve Chennai from traffic congestion. The DMK government is evincing interest and determination in implementing them.
Suggestions in this regard are welcome
67 comments March 25th, 2008
