SUSTAINABLE ROADS: A COMPONENT OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT



No matter how advanced the railways or air services are, roads continue to be the prime source of major traffic around the world. The same holds true in case of Pakistan as well. In other words, road transport is the backbone of Pakistan's transport system. Karachi remains to be economic hub of Pakistan since independence. 80% of its economic activities are conducted through road network. I suppose there is no need to describe the value of roads here anymore.
The question now arises, are these roads sustainable to carry traffic effectively? If it just means that the traffic is able to flow through them, then yes they are efficient, but in reality it is rather bitterer. Sustainability means to meet the current needs with an aim to create better future.
Everyone is familiar with current scenario of the traffic these days. In simple, roads are just considered as a free ground for movement. Bus drivers, motor cyclists, pick up vans and every other vehicle driver has just one motto i.e. to reach destination as soon as possible. Furthermore there is no concept of law implementation. Thus, not a single traffic related parameter is managed.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, some serious measures are required to be implemented at the outset. This includes a series of planning decisions to be imparted. The first and the foremost of them are BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) and LRT (Light Rail Transit). These terms might be new to some of the readers. In BRT system a separate lane is allocated for buses for their faster movement. It provides buses more faster and efficient service. It does not need much funding as well. Keeping in view the current circumstances it is the most fundamental need of the hour.
Secondly a more profound planning is required at secondary stage. This includes travel patterns and travel demand estimation. For a complex city like Karachi where travel patterns are more complex it needs to be divided into different zones on the basis of socio economic parameters. These zones are recognized on the basis of socio economic characteristics as well as travel behavior of the people living there.
These are the few fundamental and utmost significant planning steps which are needed to be initialized.

Let us hope for a brighter and developed country.