The Hindu : States / Kerala : Halt densification of city core: expert ArchivesSubscriptionsRSS FeedsSite MapePaperMobileSocialSEARCH
HomeNewsOpinionSportBusinessArtsLife & StyleS & TEducationHealthClassifiedsToday's PaperTopicsInternationalNationalStatesThe India CablesThe Pakistan Cables Cities: BangaloreChennaiCoimbatoreDelhiHyderabadKochiMaduraiMangaloreThiruvananthapuramTiruchirapalliVijayawadaVisakhapatnam News» States» KeralaTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM,August 29, 2011Halt densification of city core: expert S. Anil RadhakrishnanShare · print ·
Email the Editor Slideshow
Bio-treasures of Western GhatsTen new species of frogs discovered in the Western Ghats were named after outstanding zoologists and conservationists. A first look at these amphibians. Photos: Special Arrangementmore slideshows»Latest in this sectionCourt admits petitions against quota for economic backwardnessDoubts over entrusting probe into girl's death to CBISteps on for ‘social justice department'Work on mini power project beginsPlea to repair Moolathara damPolice shielding CPI(M) workers: BJPVayala Vasudevan Pillai passes awayFlight hit an air pocket: passengersHalt densification of city core: expert President to inaugurate valedictory of Knanaya archeparchy's centenary fete \CartyStudios Corporation\Auto Blogging Software - WebMagnates.org\data\Kochi Tuskers Kerala\The Hindu Kerala\)
Today's Paper ePaperThis Day That AgeCrosswordArchivesObituaryGroup SitesThe HinduBusiness Line SportstarImagesFrontline
About UsContactsArchivesSubscriptionsRSS FeedsSite MapHomeNewsOpinionSportBusinessArtsLife & StyleS & TEducationHealthClassifiedsToday's PaperTopicsGroup Sites
The HinduBusiness LineSportstarFrontlinePublicationseBooksImagesDisclaimer: The Hindu is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen areexpressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu.
Comments to : web.thehindu@thehindu.co.in Copyright © 2011, The Hindu
HomeNewsOpinionSportBusinessArtsLife & StyleS & TEducationHealthClassifiedsToday's PaperTopicsInternationalNationalStatesThe India CablesThe Pakistan Cables Cities: BangaloreChennaiCoimbatoreDelhiHyderabadKochiMaduraiMangaloreThiruvananthapuramTiruchirapalliVijayawadaVisakhapatnam News» States» KeralaTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM,August 29, 2011Halt densification of city core: expert S. Anil RadhakrishnanShare · print · High-capacity mass transport system proposed
Halting further densification of the core areas of three major cities of the State and evolving planning solutions at the city and regional levels have been mooted to overcome the near-immobility in the central areas and the chaotic traffic conditions there.“The complex problems faced by Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode cannot be solved merely by widening a few roads or adding a few buses or by any cosmetic improvements. Preventing further densification of the core areas of the cities is the only solution,” says N. S. Srinivasan, former Director of National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac).Even after traffic has reached a point of near-immobility in the central areas, it is not uncommon to find conversion of land use and other developments, making the traffic problems more severe. Transportation planning is the most neglected field in urban and regional development in the State and attempts made so far have been inadequate and also limited in scope, he adds.Dr. Srinivasan, who was the architect of the 42-km City Road Improvement Project in the capital, says that the transportation planner is usually brought in to solve problems created by defective circulation system or land use being finalised without examining the traffic and other implications. The central part of a city acts as a centre for the surrounding city region and as a local centre for the surrounding residential area. Due to its central location and dense development, it attracts huge volumes of traffic. Studies have shown that about 40 per cent of all the passenger trips of a city have origin or destination at the core area.Increasing trafficWith the increasing concentration of activities in the core areas of the cities, the volume of traffic to and from the city core is bound to increase and immobilise traffic conditions, unless effective steps are taken by proper planning of the cities. From the point of view of traffic circulation, the city centre should have ease of access and the internal movement should be safe and convenient. Dr. Sreenivasan says roads do not satisfy either of the functions properly and accessibility of vehicles is seriously hampered. Many shopping centres take the form of a linear shopping street, which also acts as a main traffic artery.As a result of inadequate capacities of road and parking spaces, the efficiency of the city centre is reduced. The sheer magnitude of traffic is the cause of the traffic problems. The traffic should be provided with good circulation system and adequate and convenient parking places. The problem is more complicated due to the diversity of land use in the central area of the city and also the mixed nature of traffic.Most of the main arterial roads in the cities have volume capacity ratio in the range of 2 to 3, and hence it is very difficult and also costly to augment the capacity of arterial road corridors. The remedy is to provide high capacity mass transport system on selected corridors with a network concept, but this is very cost intensive. “The experience has shown that cities have become liabilities rather than assets,” Dr. Sreenivasan says.Any attempt to further intensify the land use of these corridors will be suicidal, as there will not be any reserve capacity in the system to meet the normal growth of traffic taking place in the cities. One of the ways of tackling the problem of the city centre is to recognise that the long-range solution to the problem does not lie within itself, but lies elsewhere in the city and its region, he says. Cities like New Delhi have been divided into several planning zones and each zone has been planned and developed into self-supporting communities with adequate employment, health, education, recreation, residential and other facilities. Decentralisation of wholesale markets has also been carried out there.Keywords: traffic conditions
RelatedTOPICStransportroad transportEmail the Editor Slideshow
Bio-treasures of Western GhatsTen new species of frogs discovered in the Western Ghats were named after outstanding zoologists and conservationists. A first look at these amphibians. Photos: Special Arrangementmore slideshows»Latest in this sectionCourt admits petitions against quota for economic backwardnessDoubts over entrusting probe into girl's death to CBISteps on for ‘social justice department'Work on mini power project beginsPlea to repair Moolathara damPolice shielding CPI(M) workers: BJPVayala Vasudevan Pillai passes awayFlight hit an air pocket: passengersHalt densification of city core: expert President to inaugurate valedictory of Knanaya archeparchy's centenary fete About UsContactsArchivesSubscriptionsRSS FeedsSite MapHomeNewsOpinionSportBusinessArtsLife & StyleS & TEducationHealthClassifiedsToday's PaperTopicsGroup SitesThe HinduBusiness LineSportstarFrontlinePublicationseBooksImagesDisclaimer: The Hindu is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen areexpressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu.
Comments to : web.thehindu@thehindu.co.in Copyright © 2011, The Hindu
Posted on 4:40 AM / 0
comments / Read More
