Flyovers, underpasses only increase distance: Prof Hemanthini

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Prof Hemanthini, part of the IISc Sustainable Transportation Lab, provided an overview of what needs to be done for commuting to be made sustainable in the city.

She began by saying that there is a need for policy interventions with respect to decreasing private vehicle ownership by dis-incentivising them. She explained that measures of road widening, flyovers and underpasses will only lead to an increase in travel time as well as distance.

Last mile connectivity should entirely be provided by non-motorised transport, by prioritising pedestrian pathways and making way for bicycles, she said. She provided an example where instead of an elevated corridor, a metro corridor was constructed, garnering positive response in all aspects of sustainability and said that only infrastructure based solutions will not solve the issue.

She said that the state must make it a priority to reduce the need for travel and in cases that cannot be helped, it must help reduce the travel time and distance. Access for all must be addressed as currently public transport only has captive commuters. She said that new parking policies to disincentive private vehicles must be introduced.