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As the city prepares for the post-COVID-19 shutdown period, the worst fears on the economic front are getting too close to reality. But there are also other concerns, the most noticeable of which is transportation.
The big concern is this: People will switch to personal transportation from public transportation to escape the fear of crowding. The city, which had struggled to control traffic for years, will struggle if a large part of society comes out with personal cars and two-wheelers in abundance.
DH interacts with a representative sample of Bengalureans to understand how this will work after the crash.
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Reno P. Mathew, a Ramamurthy Nagar resident, says: “The danger of people switching to private or personal transportation after the COVID-19 crash may be dangerous, but it is a precaution.”
He believes that using public transport during this period could lead to greater health risks and social distancing would become a problem.
Suggest some ideas to mitigate traffic congestion. “The public can use bicycles to travel within a five kilometer radius. Businesses could switch to Work from Home (WFH) to reduce the movement of people from home to offices and vice versa. ”
Also read: Wanted: crowd-free buses in Bangalore after closure
Another option could be to have government-regulated office hours for each sector. “For example, the start and end times of companies should not overlap with the start time of educational institutions and also the movement of commercial vehicles should be allowed only at a specific time within the city,” he suggests.
The blockade has already generated great financial stress on the public transport system. In addition to Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), IRCTC has also experienced huge economic losses after a decade.
Anugraha Madhav, a Christ University student residing in Ulsoor, explains: “Public transportation is quite integral to our economy. Not everyone can choose to use private transport and all who use it are not viable in the long term, both economically and environmentally. ”
The truth, he says, “is that this virus has instilled fear in crowded spaces.” A possible solution could be to increase the number of public transport services and allow only a certain number of people to enter. ”
The days of “swalpa adjust maadi” are over. “Public transport systems must be disinfected regularly to ensure not only the safety of passengers but also of drivers and drivers.
The only way to avoid congestion due to traffic is to take appropriate measures to disinfect public transport, including trains, subways and buses. “
Researcher Libin Thomas believes that switching to private transportation can have a big impact on public transportation when things get back on track. “The main challenges the government will face include avoiding the crisis currently affecting public transport and keeping it clean.”
However, he feels that the stigma surrounding public transportation will exist for quite some time. “It is up to people to ensure that they maintain good personal hygiene and distance themselves in public. The government must ensure proper disinfection of public vehicles regularly to win people’s trust. The government should also promote the use of public transportation and safe car-sharing practices, “he says.
The unprecedented spread of the pandemic has created so much fear in people’s minds that it is likely to take a long time to adjust to a new, normal, subsequent blockade.
Gloria Benny, a software engineer at Shell, says: “It is not easy to put aside the inhibitions and arrests caused by the virus and return to the pre-pandemic state.” Until the dust subsides, it is understandable that most people prefer private vehicles over public ones. “
This, she agrees, could end up causing a temporary obstruction of the streets until the public becomes concerned about public transportation.
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