Automobile

Top 5 Reasons Why Indian Traffic is Terrible? How To Solve This Problem?

Traffic problems in India are so pathetic that sometimes, an ambulance can’t get through the traffic. The situation is really grave as people have to spend hours in traffic congestion. The problem of heavy traffic has intensified the problem of air pollution, which triggers severe environmental challenges like global warming, climate change, etc and respiratory disorders. Also, noise pollution due to the honking of vehicles has its disadvantages. Traffic problems also lead to a waste of fuel and time. India loses billions of dollars annually due to traffic congestion. The increase in commuting time increases the level of stress in people. Thus, traffic congestion in India causes a great loss of energy and resources to society and the economy.

In this article, We will discuss

  1. What are the causes of traffic congestion?
  2. What are the problems caused by traffic congestion?
  3. How to solve traffic problems in India?
  4. FAQs related to Traffic problems in India

What are the causes of Traffic Congestion?

Some of the primary reasons responsible for the problem of heavy traffic in India are listed below:

1. Sloppy attitude of people

The primary reason for traffic congestion in India is the unawareness of traffic rules and regulations among Indians. And even if they are aware, they don’t care to follow rules which lead to traffic jams. People cross the road despite foot-over bridges. Due to corruption, many unskilled and untrained drivers get through the driving license test.

2. Poor quality of roads

The second most common reason for the road traffic problem in India is the poor quality of roads, resulting in wastage of time and resources. Though the current government has done a tremendous job in road construction, it’s yet far from enough. The local and state authorities need to pay attention to the maintenance of those roads. Manholes and waterlogging are very common problems.

3. Increasing number of vehicles & Unauthorized parking

The number of vehicles has increased exponentially in the past few years, with Indians preferring to go by their cars rather than public transport. Practices like carpooling are not very popular in India. Due to the lack of parking space in residential areas, people park their vehicles on footpaths or in no parking zones. Sometimes, people are so careless that they park their cars on roads in marketplaces. For loading and unloading from godowns, long queues of trucks are observed on the roadsides. Most of the godowns don’t have parking facilities at their end. This is one of the reasons why traffic problems are common in both urban and rural areas of India.

4. Encroachment on roads

Encroachment of public space has emerged as a very serious problem for the government. It has become one of the main reasons behind traffic jams and accidents. Encroachment on roads and streets by shopkeepers is common everywhere. They put their display goods on footpaths as if the land is a part of their shop and does not belong to anyone else. The poor, shelterless, and needy people encroach upon the road dividers and roadsides in many areas. Stray animals on the roads also cause traffic jams. Owing to a lack of awareness, people also use public space for feeding stray animals and birds. Encroachment on roads is also seen in the form of advertisement hoardings. Authorities are not able to stop illegal road encroachment and unauthorized parking. The Transport Department needs to bring significant changes in their organization to prevent the cause of traffic jams.

5. Road blockades due to protests

Being a large and diversified country, people with different aspirations and goals reside in our country. And since India is a democratic country, people have the absolute right to express themselves in protest marches or demonstrations. Sometimes, the protesting groups blockade the roads to express their dissent.

What are the problems caused by traffic congestion?

If we talk about the effects of traffic jams, the answer to this question can’t be given in bullet points because there are 1000s of problems caused by traffic congestion. There have been some famous news headlines in the past detailing the situation when people stuck in traffic had to leave their cars on roads so that they could go home and rest. There are instances when ambulances are blocked access to passage due to heavy vehicular traffic. Due to traffic jams, many miss their job interview, flight, train, etc.

How to solve traffic problems in India?

5 measures to solve traffic problems in India to a large extent.

1. Redesigning of roads & Separate lanes for public transport and heavy vehicles

The present situation of traffic demands an organized road network. Due to the merging of lanes, traffic often gets jammed. There should be due consideration for proper road dividers, parking zones, wider pavements, and broader roads to mitigate traffic problems. Hence, redesigning roads has become extremely important. Public transport, bicycles, and heavy vehicles – each of them should have separate lanes. It is commonly observed everywhere that public transports occupy significant space on roads while picking up and dropping the passengers and thus, disturb the whole traffic.

2. Use of technology to monitor traffic

Manual checking of vehicles at inter-state checkpoints leads to heavy traffic in the region. Traffic congestion can be solved by using modern technology like artificial intelligence, sensor technology, and cameras at checkpoints. It will help reduce the traffic congestion to a huge extent as no vehicle would be required to stop at the checkpoints. Drones can be used to monitor the situation of traffic in different regions.

3. Online road tax collection and E-challan system

One of the solutions for traffic problems in India could be the use of FASTag Service. It should be mandated with some improvements such that vehicles do not have to stop for toll collection. A similar system can be followed for octroi collection from transportation trucks. The e-challan system needs to be extended to all parts of the country. This system has helped the traffic police maintain proper records of challans and has also helped avoid situations of misbehavior with the traffic challan officials.

4. Regular maintenance of roads

It includes clear demarcation of white stripes on the roads, timely repair of traffic signals and proper road drainage system, signage and pavements for pedestrians. These upkeep measures play a very important role in tackling the problem of traffic congestion and are crucial in ensuring road safety.

5. Traffic control at railway crossings

To eliminate traffic congestion at railway crossings, it should be ensured that there is a proper gap between the vehicles and that vehicles are stopped at an appropriate distance from the railway track. Underpasses or flyovers may be constructed wherever there are railway crossings. The concerned persons should be well-informed about the train arrival timings to prevent traffic congestion.


FAQs related to Traffic problems in India

Which city has the most traffic in India?

Besides other social and economic issues, traffic congestion is becoming a serious problem in some cities and towns. And the condition is worse in major cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow and Patna.

Which mode of transport can reduce congestion on the road?

Traffic congestion is a primary concern for developing countries like India. The solution to this problem is public transport like bus, metro, etc. Instead of driving alone, we can try carpooling.

Which is the best fastag service provider for toll services in India?

Best FASTag Service Providers in India; Paytm FASTag, SBI Bank FASTag, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Airtel Payments Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank…


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