Dehradun, once recognized as a land of salubrious climate and home of the retired has always had people migrating from all over the country to have an undisturbed life in their advanced years. It has always made news for its long stretches of green pastures, unreserved folks, succulent lichi and an unseen euphoria that cannot be described but felt in the very soul of the city.
But can we agree with the above context anymore? I assume that we can’t. Doon has always been a town which has survived on the basis of its green-lands and well balanced ecosystem. The town which was one amongst the eco-sensitive cities in the country is now ranked amongst the Top 5 Polluted cities in India. The increase in vehicular traffic in the town has led to disruption not only on the roads but also in the ecosystem of Doon.
The town is facing an unpredictable rate of migration from all over the country and the city is lacking the effective ways of controlling and managing this increasing population. An escalating population shoots up the demand of public facilities, natural resources, employment opportunities and more places for accommodations. The town is now experiencing a higher rate of jammed systems and blocked roads because of the increase in vehicular traffic in Dehradun.
Problems due to Increasing Traffic in Dehradun
1. Increase in Air & Noise Pollution
The expansion in the numbers of vehicles on the road in Dehradun has led to a degrading quality of air and the honking horns have led to vociferous roads which has increased the amount of noise pollution in the town. This problem is one amongst the root cause of the health ailments affecting the people of Dehradun.
2. Increasing Road Accidents
With an escalating number of vehicles, the risks of road accidents are also increasing in the town. The way of driving and the age of driving is not taken under consideration which has led to a serious threat on the lives of both the pedestrians and the drivers.
3. Degrading Quality of Roads
The Increasing Traffic in Dehradun has not only degrades the quality of the environment but it also exploits the road beyond its bear-ability. The roads which are already constructed in an uneven manner, there are huge pits and bumps because of excessive usage day-in and day-out. Places like Kanwali Road, Govind Garh, Panditwari, Rajpur Road etc have roads in an tarnished condition many times.
4. Occupancy of Pedestrian Areas
The traffic in Doon is making it difficult for the pedestrians to walk on the roads. Some reports have also showed that the town may not be having open spaces on the roads to walk on till 2025. The increasing number of scooters have jammed small nooks and corners in various parts of Dehra.
Steps to Control the Traffic Congestion in Dehradun
1. Limiting the No. of Vehicles Registered/Year
The Traffic Regulation authorities and the Regional Transport Office(RTO) should check the number of vehicles registered per year in the town and should put a cap on the number of these registration to avoid traffic congestion. This will help to regulate a better flow of the traffic while keeping in consideration all the parameters of the roads in town.
2. Cops & School Authorities to improve traffic during School hours
School hours in Dehradun
Traffic snarls each day during the school hours every morning and afternoon. The State Education Minister Arvind Pandey has also highlighted this issue and has advised the police authorities to work with private schools in order to cater the problem. There are many private schools in residential areas which makes it even terrible for the residents to travel during the school hours and is one amongst the major reasons of increasing traffic in Dehradun
3. Checking the Appropriate Driving Age
A number of school students and kids are seen riding a private vehicle. Underage driving is one amongst the most inappropriate events that is rapidly increasing in the town. School kids who are not illegible for driving should be watched closely. Controlling this will ensure safety of the school kids and will cater the traffic congestion in the city up to some extent.
4. Using Traffic Management techniques in Dehradun
The Odd and Even technique to control the traffic in the capital of India turned out to be quiet productive in decongesting New Delhi. This technique or other useful measures can be applied in Doon as well as this will help in controlling the increasing traffic in Dehradun. The town being smaller in stretch, has high possibilities to cope with the problem of traffic congestion through an odd & even scheme or other intelligent ideas.
5. Building more Flyovers
The Government of the state can come up with the effective construction of more reliable and appropriate flyovers in the town. Dehradun being limited in its area barely has the adjust-ability to expand the width of the roads. More flyovers like the ones in Balliwala Chawk, ISBT, Ballupur and Mohkampur can be built to control the jam on the roads.
6. Utilisation of Open Spaces for Parking
Places like Parade Ground can be used as a parking space for parents who come to drop and pick up their ward in the schools in the areas nearby. More areas which are unused can be utilised as a parking space during the rush hours. This will avoid clogging on the road at peak hours.
7. Proper construction of Roads
Inappropriate constructions of the roads also lead to traffic jams and road accidents. An uneven road with potholes tends to have more blockage and is usually jammed because the undesirable condition of it makes it unpleasant to drive on.
8. Controlling the number of Vendors & hawkers on the roads
One amongst the major cause of traffic in Dehradun is also the lack of space on the roads due to the occupancy by hawkers and vendors. Dehradun has near about 2700 hawkers selling in the town. Many are illegal hawkers and the traffic police has taken measures to decongest the traffic in the city. The hawker zone will be constructed in some areas and some areas will be allotted as no hawker zone which will be completely prohibited for the hawkers to enter.
The degrading condition of the town’s environment and its roads is getting worse with each passing day. Effective measures of sustainability are required for the government to cater the problem of traffic congestion in the town. Using more public transport like Vikram and Mini-Metro is also an essential to change the plight of packed roads in Dehradun. If the traffic congestion in Dehradun will exceed with the current pace and if it will be deprived of any management, the eco-sensitive city will turn into an adulterated beauty in no time.