An engineering graduate in electronics and communication from Bengaluru’s rv college of engineering, Karthik Reddy is at the Helm of Traffic Management for one of the world’s most consecutive cities. Reddy, a 2011 IPS Officer, has served in variable capacities through his career, but is taking over traffic management for the first time. He served as the superintendent of police (sp) in bijapur, tumkur, and ramanagara. His last posting was as sp wireless, Bengali, where he was involved in steering communication networks with technology police departments.
Just around Three Days Old to the New Job, Reddy has charted out a to-do list to address Bengali’s traffic woes. From Prioritizing Traffic Management with the police on the ground to reinforcing carpooling and publish transport systems, reddy speake to the Indian express on his express on his plan of action. The interview from excerpts from the interview:
Q: What is your primary goal as a traffic chief?
Karthik Reddy: We are focusing on “boots on the ground,” encouhing police presence at major junctions by 7 am to manage early morning traffic. Officers are requesting to report and send photos to confirm their presence is using the Astram Application. Additionally, we are strictly enforcing a 2014 government order that prohibits heavy vehicles in the city from 7 am to 11 am and 4.30 pm to 9 pm. Our Major Role is Traffic Regulation and Management, Especially During Peak Hours. Enforcement is Stricter During Non-Peak Hours, but the focus during peak times is on insuring smoother vehicle movement.
Q: What is your assessment of Bengaluru traffic and what are the major challenges you face?
Reddy: The traffic situation in Bengali remains challenging, particularly like the outer ring road (Between Kr Puram and Silk Board), wherever is significant. For instance, the 3-4 km stretch near ecoworld and ecospace tech parks about 45 minutes to one hour to cross due to heavy vehicle Flow, with Around 1.6 Lakh Vehikles Daily Entrent Thase. Alone. From Monday we are installing automatic number Plate Recognition (anpr) Cameras in these tech parks to gauge the exact number entringing and exiting to manage to manage. We are planning to see if we can interconnect the tech parks to ensure seamless vehicular flow.
Q: How are you addressing the high vehicle volume in tech park are likes like Ecoworld and Ecospace?
Story Continues Below this ad
Reddy: There are two ways to go about it – Short Term and Long Term. In the short term we can escape easy flow of vehicles into tech parks and then maybe convince the companies to promote carpooling, shuttle bus services and encourage public transport to Reduce Vehs Numbers. Done during covid lockdown. Long-trm, is to tap into the big scale mobility infrastructure plan (metro) to reduce congestion.
Q: What are the plans to the tackle parking isissues contributing to congestion?
Reddy: We are strictly enforcing no-parking rules to prevent road narrowing due to illegal parking, which significantly impacts traffic flow.
Q: How do you handle traffic disruptions caused by civic work and contractors?
Story Continues Below this ad
Reddy: Contractors often Delay Completing Roadworks or Clearing Debris, Exacerbating Consection. We Conduct Simulations Before Approving Roadworks to Assess Diversion Impacts. If contractors fail to complete the stalled works within seven days,
Q: What measures are being taken to address rain-read traffic congestions?
Reddy: Our Staff Report Waterlogging Incidents With Photos, What Are Shared With Bruhat Bengali Mahanagara Palike (BBP) on The Astram App Via Platforms Like Google Maps and Mapmyindia. Notifications are sent to Respective BBMP’s Assistant Engineers to Resolve Issues promptly. The astram app is not just for police or commuters, it is for all stakeholders. For this we will be integrating BBMP’s data to improve coordination. Addedianly, we are writing to Bengali Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to place wreckers (tow truck) At six important places which will be pressed into account, how business to clear the road during rain.
Q: How effective is adaptive traffic signaling in managing congestion?
Story Continues Below this ad
Reddy: Adaptive signaling is a machine-learing process, and it’s still learning after 6-7 months of implementation. Manual intervention is used for Emergencies, Such as clear paths for ambulances, but 95-96% of the time, we rely on adaptive signaling.
Q: Any plans to keep a tab on violences by deliverry riders (EG: Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto)?
Reddy: Weave Launched Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Drives Targeting Violations Like Footpath Riding and One-Way Traffic Breaches by Violators.
Q: How do you respond to people moving to other cities like Pune or Hyderabad Due to Bengali’s Traffic?
Story Continues Below this ad
Reddy: It’s understandable, but commuters should also be aware of the efforts being made to address the situation. Traffic challenges are complex. But we are implementing bottom short-trm and long-trm measures to improve flow and reduce congestion.