Let’s Rethink Urban Transport in Developing Countries

Walking the walk on a sustainable transport, the scale of urbanization in the country over past few decades has been truly astonishing. In the next twenty years, billions of rural regions’ people will call cities their home. But on the name of sustainable transport, occurrence of peak-hour traffic congestion on the roads everyday has become one of the biggest challenges. Are you also one who is familiar with enduring a painful day commute on clogged roads? Increasing congestion on urban roads presents a serious threat to the economic sustainability of our cities. For instance, here I would like to highlight about the Guwahati city of Assam. People meet massive traffic jam at Maligaon due to the ongoing construction of a new flyover. The flyover construction beginning from Maligaon to Kamakhya gate covering a distance of 2.9 km. It is constructed under the PWD department with an investment of abour 4.20 crores. The massive traffic jam is expected to stay for the next three years, untill the completion of the flyover. Though the administration has requested the commuters to travel via Lokhra who were heading towards LaL Ganesh. Beltola, Hatigaon, Six Mile etc. Guwahati being a linear city, has limited corridors. People stuck on congestions. One of the endurers said, “I was stranded in the jam for than an hour and got late for office on one side of the road, where several buses filled with commuters were lined up and students could be seen panicking because they were getting late for exams”. In the same vein, another commuter said “ These huge buses and trucks are the main reason for traffic jam, as they cover the road more”. The issue of traffic jam demands an adequate solution as soon as possible. If not for commuters but atleast for the ambulances. Each second of time is precious. Traffic jam is also contributing in the increasing number of accidents day by day. To overcome traffic jams, authorities have to adopt sustainable modes of travel. This means citizens have to switch to convenient forms of mobility. Till the construction of the flyover completes, people either should use public transport or only small vehicles should be allowed. When all types of vehicles tries to pass on the same time via the narrow space of the road, it occurs congestion. Let’s give a re-look on the transportation system of our country and find its solution for our own convenience and safety.