Elevated Highway Not the Answer for Bangalore

Bangalore is the city that put the “new” India on the map.  Before Bangalore most Americans if asked to name an Indian city would most probably name Calcutta.  The world knew of Calcutta for all the wrong reasons because of Mother Theresa and also because of movies based in Calcutta like the “City of Joy”.

I enjoyed my various visits to the city as a teenager.  Bangalore clearly was the most liberal city in South India (excluding cities in Goa which was very difficult to get to those days) and I found that very refreshing.  My favorite bar those days used to be “The Pub”.  I am not sure if it is still around.

For the past twenty years it has been fascinating for individuals like me to watch the dramatic growth of India from a distance.  India and China, although both countries will not admit it are closely following the American model of growth.  This is not limited to the economic model followed in these countries alone.   Our infrastructure investments and our answers to solving the energy crisis show that we prefer the American model over the European one.

There is nothing wrong with doing what the American did.  Overall it is an extremely successful model.  But one area where I think that India should take a closer look at the European model and not blindly follow the Americans is how and most importantly where we should build roads and highways and where not to.

Almost all American cities (including the city of Philadelphia where I live) are full of major highways running right through the middle of the city.  In terms of expressways Philadelphia lies right at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Interstate 76.  NOTE: In the United States odd numbered interstates flow North to South (and vice versa) and even numbered ones go East to West (and vice versa).

This model of building highways inside of major cities has certain advantages.  It is “easier” to get in and out of huge cities initially.  In many American cities this is no longer true.  During peak traffic times it might take more than an hour to commute from the downtown Philadelphia area called “Center City” to one of the major suburbs (say Conshohocken) although it is only about 8 miles away.  The interstate during peak traffic will almost look like a parking lot.

But there are huge disadvantages to building highways inside cities that most cities overlook.  Generally over a period of time the property value of all surrounding areas will drop. The highways are very noisy, it is active 24/7, it transports a lot of strangers back and forth and there is a lot of debris and trash all round it.

Think of the Indian Railway system.  As you approach a major city do you think that the neighborhoods around the railway tracks are the best neighborhoods in the city or the worst?  In the inner cities in the United States there is no question that some of the worst crime and drug inflicted areas in the cities are those that are situated close to the interstates.  The elevated roadways and intersections are areas which can provide refuge for homeless people and for criminal activities.

Highways like these also have an interesting side effect.  It encourages people who are affluent to leave the city and live in the suburbs but continue to work in the city.  The city over a period of time will become the area where the poorer people live and where the richer people work.  This is an untenable situation.  The government of India (like most governments in the world) cannot provide essential services to a population that is expanding out side of the city.

Europe has a better approach to this problem.  Large portions of many European cities are for pedestrians only.  This keeps the historic and important sections of the city quiet, cleaner and active as human beings can walk around everywhere without worrying about traffic.  When highways pass through critical areas of the city they are mostly underground and not on the ground or elevated.  European cities also encourage people to ride bicycles and have some of the best public transportation (including subways) that I have ever seen.

Cities like London are considering radical plans to prevent people from driving into the city during certain time periods (under a new play introduced by the Mayor drivers on congested roads will be charged up to 1.34 Pounds/mile.  The targeted areas include Edgware Road, Marble Arch, and Hyde Park Corner).  The city of Philadelphia is now considering a proposal to spend close to a billion dollars and covert sections of I-95 as it passes through the city into a local road.

So why are we in India not learning from these costly mistakes?

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Tags: Bangalore, Europe, India, London, Philadelphia

Category: News & Government