Sky bus-does M’lore really need it?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The sky bus proposal put forth for the city by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industries, with a view to ease traffic congestion on the city roads, has been forwarded to the Mangalore Urban Development Authority and presently, a debate is on in public circles with regard to the feasibility of the project.
This project which may take a minimum of ten years for implementation is seen as a major step towards easing traffic congestion in the days to come. At the same time, some are of the view that such a multi-crore project is unnecessary for the city of Mangalore the traffic problems of which can be averted to a great extent through widening of roads and systematic traffic arrangements.
Though the KCCI pro-posal is to have a sky bus facility from Haleyangady to Ammembala near Konaje, the deputy commissioner M Maheshwara Rao who is also the MUDA chairman has suggested an alternate route.
The Mangalore legislator Yogish Bhat on the other hand seems to be keen in going ahead with the project as even the deputy chief minister Yadiyurappa has assured a grant of Rs one crore for a feasibility study of the project.
Even the Konkan Railway Corporation has backed this project and everything now depends on the MUDA decision.
Though sky bus travelling is not that costly, the city’s traffic system which is already in chaos will be thrown out of gear during the implementation stages of sky bus facility, that will take a minimum of ten years during when even the density of vehicles on the city roads would increase by several folds.
On the other hand, some are of the contention that the city needs projects that can be easily implemented in a short span at a time when it is gearing up for major investments under the Special Economic Zone. Suggestions are also heard that instead of sky bus, the present situation can improve to a great extent, by converting the city roads into four-lane, introducing strict traffic regulations and initiating legal action against those flouting traffic rules etc.
Though the Konkan Railway Corporation may not hesitate to take up the project, the unusual delay in release of funds, the high price of necessary equipment etc would definitely come in the way of the project.
In Bangalore, there is a proposal to hand over the sky bus project to the KUIDFC.
If at all the sky bus project is implemented in the city, it would definitely add to the beauty of the city. The Konkan Railway Corporation has already assured to undertake works upto a stretch of 10 kms in two yeras. The sky bus would travel at a speed of 70 km per hour without any problem of traffic jams etc.
But prior to the implementation of the project, there is a need for the study of the likely pressure on land in the city which falls under Earth Quake Zone 3. The Citizens’ Forum for Planned Development of Mangalore is also of the contention that developmental projects should be implemented in such a way that they do not prove hazardous.
What the city needs at the earliest is good roads and traffic regulations . The roads must be made motorable and strict traffic regulations should be enforced.This would go a long way in easing traffic congestion to a great extent, opine residents of Mangalore.