* Assistant Prof., Department of Geography, National P.G. College, Lucknow

IJMRT • Volume 10 • Number 2 • July-December 2016: 113-123

CHALLENGES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON URBANENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY OF LUCKNOW CITY

Ritu Jain*

Abstract: Time is equal to money in today’s society and cities especially towns which play a vitalrole in promoting this economic growth and prosperity. The efficiency of a city largely depends uponthe effectiveness of its Transport Systems, i.e., efficiency with which people and goods are movedthroughout the city. And when the city is the State Capital, like Lucknow, its management becomesmore important. Lucknow is known as ‘tehzeebon ka Shehar’, but when it comes to traffic, they loseall tehzeeb n tameez, driving them into rash driving resulting into severe Traffic congestion. Trafficcongestion has been one of the fundamental problems faced by modern cities. Although TrafficCongestions are a routine in most of the cities but this problem has been encountered in Lucknow atits wildest stage. The present study deals with the challenges and issues of urban transport of RingRoad from Polytechnic to Engineering College Chowraha in Lucknow City, which is primarilyimportant from policy point of view. There are several causes like road rage, road bullies , majoraccidents, small road capacity , increasing, private cars, crucial public transport ,lack of maintenance,etc. which ultimately results in traffic congestion. The present study deals with a critical analysis ofthe causes, its effects and suggestion for managing traffic congestion which is not only causing severnegative effects on the urban environment but also causing ill effects on the health of the people.Today if this traffic congestion is not managed immediately will become a curse to both the urbanenvironment as well as the people living here. The government of the city is continuously makingefforts so it is the responsibility of the Lucknowites too to make the plan a success because our 1percent effort will join to 99 percent efforts and make it 100 percent.

INTRODUCTION

Time is equal to money in today’s society and cities especially towns which play avital role in promoting this economic growth and prosperity. The efficiency of a citylargely depends upon the effectiveness of its Transport Systems, that is, efficiencywith which people and goods are moved throughout the city. And when the city is theState Capital, like Lucknow, its management becomes more important. Lucknow isknown as ‘tehzeebon ka shehar’, but when it comes to traffic, they lose all tehzeeb ntameez, driving them into rash driving resulting into severe Traffic congestion.

Traffic congestion has been one of the fundamental problems faced by moderncities. Although Traffic Congestions are a routine in most of the cities but this problemhas been encountered in Lucknow at its wildest stage. Traffic congestion, in Lucknow,is basically caused by the public’s over-reliance on private transportation and failureto keep up with the zooming expansion of modern societies and their demands andthe violating complexes developing in young lads to pose their superiority. So, if thecity has to get rid of this traffic maze, the first step has to come from the citizens. They

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should have to follow the vehicniques (Vehicle Management Techniques) and resolveto obey the traffic rules to manage this traffic congestion.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

Principally the main aim of the study is to investigate the complexity of the trafficcongestion; analyze its effect, plans and policies implemented by the government. Thespecific objectives of the study are as follows:

• To analyse traffic congestion and their causes• To identify its effect on man, his health and environment.• To examine the plans and policies implemented by the government.• To study the rate of growth of congestion formation and how to control it.• To introduce more effective management projects.• To utilise intelligent traffic management to boost the competitiveness at local

levels.• To deliver innovative solutions to reduce traffic emissions and improve air

pollution monitoring.

METHODOLOGY

The Study has been worked upon with an analytical and inductive (theory generating)approach which is totally based on the statements and reviews from the peoplequestioned. A set of questions are being formulated and then put up to different peopleof different occupation; age group; mentality; etc., and then based upon their statementsfacts are verified in order to find the solution for the current problem and generate aset of theory based upon its analysis.

STUDY AREA

Lucknow is the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is one of the majormetropolitan cities of India and is the administrative headquarters of Districtand Lucknow Division. It is known as a multicultural city and flourished as a culturaland artistic hub of North India. Today it continues as an important centre ofgovernment, education, commerce, aerospace, finance, pharmaceuticals, technology,design, culture, tourism, music and poetry. Lucknow, geographically located between26° 50' 49.2" North and 80° 56' 49.2" East, and stands at an elevation of approximately120 meters (390 ft) above mean sea level and covers an area of 689.1 square kilometres.It is the second largest city of northern India after New Delhi and the eleventh largestcity of India. It is surrounded on the eastern side by District Barabanki, onthe western side by district Unnao, on the southern side by Raebareli and on thenorthern side by Sitapur and Hardoi. The city is on the north-western shoreof Gomti river, which flows through it.

The present study deals with the challenges and issues of urban transport of RingRoad from Polytechnic to Engineering College Chowraha in Lucknow City, which is

Challenges of Traffic Congestion on Urban Environment: A Case Study Lucknow City 115

primarily important from policy point of view. The Ring Road is mainly the highwayand so always busy with the movement of the vehicles. It is one of the most importantroad veins of Lucknow city, which connects almost every neighbouring district inLucknow, In the present study we have taken into account the way via ring road, i.e.only the roadways and not the residential and commercial areas at the outcuts of thethe ring road. There are three ways leading to polytechnic chowraha from engineeringcollege chowraha. The longest route is via Kursi Road estimating to be 10 kms indistance and taking around 30 minutes (via private convince). Another is, via FaizabadRoad, estimating distance 8.5 kms and around 20 – 25minutes and last but not theleast, via Ring Road estimating distance 7.5kms taking around 15minutes. But...sadlydue to over loaded traffic, it takes around 30 – 35minutes depending on the traffic toreach polytechnic via Ring Road, the shortest route to the destination. The areas thatare at the edges of the Ring Road are mostly commercial and followed by residential.The commercial complexes comprises of almost all the aspects of market. Anythingand everything that a person needs for a standard life, he can get it over here. In thestudy area 6 major traffic knots have been studied.

MAJOR TRAFFIC KNOTS AT THE RING ROAD

Traffic Knots are the new aspect of the traffic jams that has been observed now-a -days. It is the state when all the vehicles overlap due to mismanagement and impatiencein the people. This is seen almost at all the junctions. Traffic knots are not the result oftraffic snarl up; in fact it is one factor that causes severe traffic jams. It is seen thatmany a times; people just can’t hold themselves back and let others go. They are alwaysin a rush and cannot wait for others to go before them. It has become a trend to violatetraffic rules and step up into a severe mess. People lack the sense of smooth trafficmovement and the latent feeling of superiority complex bind them to jump into trafficjams resulting in severe traffic knots. The study has been dealing with the trafficcongestion on the Ring Road where I found 6 Major Traffic Knots on the route.

(i) Polytechnic Knot: is located at the latitude of 26°87’E and longitude of 80°99’N.It mainly connects the Faizabad Road to Chinhat, Indra Nagar, and GomtiNagar. The nearby areas are, Indra Nagar, Rabindra Palli, Gomti Nagar andChinhat.Traffic Type: Propogational Jams ; Knot type: Severe Knots

(ii) Munshi Pullia Knot: is located at the latitude of 26°88’E and longitude of80°99’N. It mainly connects Indra Nagar, Vikas Nagar, Kalyanpur and also toGomti Nagar. The nearby areas are Indra Nagar, Kalyanpur, Kukrail, VikasNagar and Faizabad Road.Traffic Type: Phantom Jams; Knot type: Major Knots

(iii) Khurram Nagar Knot: is located at the latitude of 26°89’E and longitude of80°97’N. It mainly connects Indra Nagar, Vikas Nagar, Kalyanpur and KukrailRoad. The nearby areas are Indra Nagar, Kalyanpur, Kukrail and Vikas Nagar.Traffic Type: Cluster Jams; Knot type: Major Knot

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(iv) Kanchana Vihari Marg Knot: is located at the latitude of 26°89’E and longitudeof 80°96’N. It mainly connects Vikas Nagar, Kalyanpur, Madiyon, IISE, KukrailRoad and towards Indranagar. The nearby areas are Madiyon, Kalyanpur,Kukrail and Vikas Nagar.Traffic Type: Propogational Jams; Knot type: Minor Knots

(v) Tedhi Pullia Knot: is located at the latitude of 26°90’E and longitude of 80°95’N.It is one of the major chowraha on the route and according to the study; thispoint has been an alarming report of the increasing traffic knots. It mainlyconnects Vikas Nagar, Kalyanpur, Madiyon, Kanchana Vihari Marg, towardsKursi Road, Jankipuram and Aliganj. The nearby areas are Kalyanpur, VikasNagar, Aliganj, Jankipuram, Kursi Road.Traffic Type: Phantom Jams; Knot type: Severe Knots

(vi) Engineering College Knot: is located at the latitude of 26°91’E and longitudeof 80°94’N. It mainly connects Aliganj, Jankipuram, Kalyanpur, Gudamba andtowards Sitapur Road Jankipuram and Aliganj. The nearby areas are Kalyanpur,Aliganj, Jankipuram, and Gudamba. This chowraha connects important areasnear Lucknow, like, Sitapur, Bakshi Ka Talab, Hardoi, IIM Road, etc. It connectsthe major highway. The nearby areas are the commercial complexes, marriagelawns and residential making it important. From here we get both auto rickshawand buses for almost all the nearby and distant places.Traffic Type: Cluster Jams; Knot type: Minor Knots

Challenges of Traffic Congestion on Urban Environment: A Case Study Lucknow City 117

CAUSES

There are a number of specific circumstances which cause or aggravate congestionwhich are as follows:

Traffic Rule Violation: Traffic rule violation is the main cause of traffic jam. Only70% of people are aware of traffic rules which are very alarming. Due to this knowledgegap and unwillingness to follow traffic rules people violate traffic rules and that causestraffic jam. It was seen that only 13% of people follow traffic rules strictly. On the otherhand, 47% people moderately follow traffic rules and 40% of people never follow trafficrules.

Old Infrastructure and Increasing Population: Road infrastructure is one of themost important causes for traffic congestion in Lucknow. The infrastructure of thecity like narrow roads, wide medians, poor drainage, absence of lanes, constructionor repair works, corruption, encroachments, lanes not managed; etc, has becomeold and insufficient to hold on the increased population pressure in 2014. The poorroad infrastructure has lead to many accidents and severe knot formations on therun.

Increasing Numbers of Private Car: Private car in the roads are also causing trafficjam. According to Lucknow traffic Police, the number of registered vehicles hasincreased by 65%. In 2001-02, the city had 5, 55,769 vehicles. This number went up to12, 10,889 in 2011-12. 98 % of car’s number belongs to private citizens. The growth rateof motor vehicle is also very high, reaching 10.9 percent per year. Unfortunately, thishighly number is not followed by the road quantity. The availability of roadinfrastructure’s quantity, is only about 7,650 kilometres long, with the total roads areaof 40.1 m2 or only 6.26 percent of the total area of Lucknow City, whereas the growthrate of road quantity is only 0.01 percent per year. In fact, the ideal ratio between roadquantity and the total area is 14 percent. An increase in motor vehicles quantity andthe subsequent congestion generate problems affecting daily social life.

Lack of Planning of City Road: The roads in city are not pre planned. As thecountry needs a road, authority keep making roads. That is why there is no pre plan.And we are suffering traffic jam as an outcome of unplanned city. Lucknow is expandingto its maximum limits. But this expansion has no planning. So, buildings are built,markets are made but none is looking at the road space.

Low Road Space: Due to unplanned parking and construction materials that areplace beside the road, the usable road space becomes low. So, with the low road spaceit is common that very few vehicles will get the chance to pass through them. It causestraffic jam.

Unplanned Stoppage/ Parking: We do not have any planned parking facility inall the states of India. That is why vehicle operators stop their vehicles in any place,where they need. And it cause traffic jam.

Different Speed Vehicle: Slow and fast moving vehicles are running through thesame road. As a result, slow moving vehicles are making the fast moving vehiclesslow. This is also one of the important reasons of traffic jam.

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Rickshaw: Some people think rickshaw is the main cause of traffic jam. Theirstructure and moving capability is also responsible for traffic jam.

Lack of Law Implementation: One important complains against traffic is lack ofproper law implementation. Law should be enforcement strictly.

Enforcement of motor vehicles laws and penalising offending motorists is an areawhere traffic cops are unable to show up with satisfactory results. At times, offenderstaking law in their hands, have also attacked traffic police personnel in broad daylight.The incidents show that offenders have no fear of traffic cops.

Civic Sense: Another challenge for cops to implement traffic laws is civic sense.Parking on roadside, riding without helmet, using ‘connections’ to evade paying trivialticket amounts, flouting motor vehicle rules is very rampant in the city. “Motoristsshould not shirk their responsibilities and act irresponsibly,”

People has no regard for traffic rules and guidelines, a latent feeling of superioritycomplex in violating the traffic laws (mainly jumping the red lights) and most importantlythe sense of camaraderie that we belong to Lucknow and Lucknow belongs to us.

Lack of coordination between departments: Dug-Up Roads in city have becomea source of nuisance in Lucknow. They are not only leading to traffic snarls but arealso becoming a major source of health-related problems on account of dust. Basically,the problem is due to lack of coordination between various departments such asLucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), Jal Nigam, UP Bridge Corporation, LESA,and various telecom companies. Besides, the engineers working at the sites told HT,the entire work of laying the sewer pipes could take more than five months to getcompleted. Meanwhile, LMC officials say, most of the roads in the city are dug up byJal Nigam under the JNNURM projects. These agencies have no coordination at allwith the LMC when it comes to digging of road.

The work goes on for many months with no choice but to inhale dust. Number ofchildren fall into the pits, but the Jal Nigam never bothers to listen to our problems.The Lucknow Sewerage Yojana under JNNURM has left the residents of Mahanagar,Vikas Nagar crossing till Rahimnagar crossing face problem due to dug up roads, andtraffic jams.

City engineer and incharge of JNNURM projects SK Jain says, “There are normsabout road cutting but seldom are they followed. Ideally, a stretch of 100 metres shouldbe cut and then filled up and left for compaction, after that next 100 metre road shouldbe taken for lying of sewer pipes. But it’s economically feasible that’s why roads aredug up in larger patches around 1,000 metres and then sewer pipes are laid.

Besides this some other reasons are important which should be taken into accounti.e. lack or driving training/ sense, poor signal system. high migration from rural tourban area, lack of integration, absence of mass traffic system,

EFFECTS AND PROBLEMS

Traffic Congestion has become a serious Global Concern. There is hardly any aspectthat has been left untouched by its effects. Its impact has not only been seen on humans,

Challenges of Traffic Congestion on Urban Environment: A Case Study Lucknow City 119

but their environment, economy, culture, and as a whole on the Earth. Traffic congestionhas a number of negative effects but some of its specific impacts that have been observedon the basis of my study are as follows:

• Impact on Economy, Impact on Health, and Impact on Environment.

IMPACT ON ECONOMY

Due to traffic jam we are losing money in four ways:• Loosing Man-Hours,• Extra Fuel Consumptions,• Vehicle Operating Cost, and• Miscellaneous Cost.Loosing Man-hours: According to my survey, people in Lucknow work 6days a

week, but due to the delay caused by the traffic, their average man hour estimates to5.2 days in a week. This calculation of man-hours is also known as VOT (Value ofTravel Time Savings) which is effected by the congestion. Also, a difference on theaverage income of people has been observed due to the delay in traffic jams.

Extra Fuel Consumption: Due to traffic jam per annum extra fuel consumptioncosts in crores, which is enormous amount of money for a developing country likeIndia. Indian government is buying this extra amount of fuel with hard cash. This isconsidered a national loss.

Vehicle Operating Cost: Every car has a running cost. Vehicle operating cost isdirectly proportionate to traffic jam. Like, if there is traffic jam, then the vehicle operatorhas to push the break and accelerator frequently. So, the life time of those will be less.Fuel consumption will continue if we are even in the jam and our car is on. So, Trafficjam actually increases VOC.

Miscellaneous Cost: For serious patients, it is life and death situation in a trafficjam. It may happen that he is the only earning member of that family and due to trafficjam, he might be no more. And at that time the loss of the family can never be measuredin money.

IMPACT ON MAN AND HIS HEALTH

Due to heavy traffic jam, the main sufferers are: General people, and Vehicle operators.

General People: 73% of people in Lucknow are suffering some kind of physical ormental discomfort like breathing problem (26%), headache (20%), mental stress (15%),hearing problem (12%), unexpected sweating (12%), tiredness (09%), and eye problem(06%) due to traffic jam.

Besides this people suffer from suffocation, respiratory problem, puking, heartdisease, fever, dust allergy, digestion problem, and dehydration.

Vehicle Operators: Among vehicle operators 30% of them are suffering fromphysical discomfort and 70% have told that they are not feeling any difference. The

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ways of sufferings for the vehicle operators are almost similar to other people. Themain sufferings are listed below:

• Headache,• Pain in the body, and• Excessive Sweating.

Discomfort that General People are Suffering Due to Traffic Jam

Ways of Suffering of Vehicle Operators Due To Traffic Jam

Challenges of Traffic Congestion on Urban Environment: A Case Study Lucknow City 121

IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT

Traffic jam causes environment pollution i.e. Sound pollution, and Air pollution.Sound Pollution: 97% of students reported that their studying is disrupted by

horns. 86% of the general population consider noise pollution a big problem; only 1%said it is not a problem.

Among the general population:• 78% experience aggravation,• 71% experience headaches,• 49% bad temper,• 43% difficulty concentration and trouble sleeping, and• 33% experience hearing problems from sound pollution.• 45% of drivers say they honk in traffic jams.The general public strongly support actions to reduce noise pollution, with the

vast majority supporting improved traffic control, banning industrial activity and brickbreaking machines in urban areas, placing limits on the decibels allowed in differentareas, and banning miking for processions, advertising, and election campaigns.

Air Pollution: Traffic jam introduces air pollution through SOx, NOx, COx (SO2,CO, CO2, N2O, NO2). And in the traffic jam, when vehicles stop for a longer periodsof time and their engine is on, they emit SOx, NOx much which are lighter than air butvery dangerous for our health and they even can cause death.

SPM (Suspended Particle Matter) which are normally emitted from exhaust tail.Due to less burning some unburnt particle gets out from the exhaust tail which causescancer. People at CNG level suffer the most. Because the unburnt fuel is heavier thanair, so they want to go down, but they cannot go down because of repulsion of theroad.

SPM are normally positively charged, and due to friction between the tyre androad all day long, the road become positively charged also. So, it creates repulsionwhich makes the particle to keep in such a level which is easier to inhale by human.People in the afternoon suffer most. Due to building around two sides of the road,SPM got stuck. It creates a deadly canal. We need cross ventilation so that air can driveSPM away or make it diluted. But, there are very few space left both sides of the road.As a result we are keeping these particles in our way which is deadly for children andeven for older ones too.

SUGGESTIONS

On the basis of study, the suggestions can be divided into four categories i.e. parking,urban planning, infrastructure, and policy reform.

• Multi-Level Parking Facility must be established in Indira Nagar and on theCommercial lane of the Ring Road, under the complex boundaries, so that novehicles parked on the main road. The transitional parking facility along with

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the interstate bus terminal is currently undeveloped and unmanaged, but hasconsiderable available space.

• Ban illegal roadside parking of taxi, buses, rikshaw, auto, etc from the mainchauraha to allow free space for other vehicles to move.

• Certain parts of the school property can be converted into parking facilities.

• The area left for footpath is wasted by the encroachment so it could be used inwidening of the roads, allowing more space to move.

• The Area Bordering of the Markets for Temporary Parking should be avoided.

• A proactive urban planning strategy to be put in place to allow future expansionof the ring road.

• Public transport must be encouraged. This shuttle would offer a higher amountof seating, in the form of a taxi or buses.

• Stricter violations against encroachment by shop keepers.

• The sewers along both sides of the roadways occupies a great deal of spacethat could be used as pedestrian walkways, separating pedestrian travel fromvehicular travel.

• A physical barrier in the form of a handrail or guard rail could be placed toseparate pedestrians from vehicles.

• A diagonal flyover can allow individuals to walk over traffic, from the mainroadways.

• Structural improvements to the bus stand to incorporate a higher sense oforganization, enhancing the popularity of public transportation.

• Effective Presence of Law Enforcement

• Private Parking Facilities Charge Hourly

• Alternative bus routes were to be relocated to in the city, then much of thetraffic congestion would be alleviated.

• Garbage Disposal Be Transferred Outside Of Pedestrian Areas.

• Waste disposal bins should be present and available for visitor use to alleviatelittering.

• Awareness BuildingNMT (Non Motorized Transport) free road,

• Maximum use of road width,

• Modern signalling system,

• Speed wise dedicated road for vehicles,

• Effective use of underpass and over bridge,

• School bus,

• Time rescheduling,

• Training of traffic polices.

Challenges of Traffic Congestion on Urban Environment: A Case Study Lucknow City 123

CONCLUSION

Almost all the successive governments in the state in the past six decades have hardlylaboured to tackle the issue seriously. But, politicians alone cannot be blamed for themess. Lucknowites do not bother to show the tradition of ‘pehle aap’ to fellowcommuters once the traffic signal turns green. Thus, following set of general and specificsuggestions are formulated on the basis of my study, which if taken into consideration,can surely deal with a large number of problems of congestion and provide much easein the traffic flow. Our 1% effort will join to 99% efforts and make it 100%.

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