Open House: Can’t the govt treat ‘no-vehicle zone’ as a novel solution for vehicular pollution in Punjab?

Are local bodies equipped for this?

Creating no-vehicle zones in urban areas can certainly have numerous benefits for both health and the environment. It can improve air quality, leading to a reduction in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, promoting walking and cycling can help combat chronic diseases like constipation, obesity and diabetes, while also having positive effects on public mental health by reducing stress levels. From an environmental standpoint, reducing greenhouse gas emissions contributes to the fight against climate change. Converting vehicle-free zones into parks and green spaces also helps improve biodiversity and provides recreational areas for residents. Furthermore, by reducing traffic-generated heat, vehicle-free zones can help lower the overall temperature and make urban areas more comfortable. Lessons can be learnt from some successful stories in the country. For example, in Delhi, the main stretch of Chandni Chowk, between Red Fort and Fatehpuri Masjid, is designated as a no-vehicle zone from 9 am to 9 pm; Maharashtra’s Matheran, Asia’s only eco-sensitive car-free hill station, where visitors and residents can use horses, horse-drawn carriages and hand-pulled rickshaws; and Gujarat’s electric vehicle-only area around the Statue of Unity in Kevadia. However, the implementation of no-vehicle zones is a daunting task for the cash-strapped local bodies in Punjab. It requires a comprehensive approach, including regulatory measures, infrastructural changes and community engagement to provide alternative transportation options. This can include the development of extensive pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, improving public transport systems, and implementing bike-sharing programmes. Strict rules limiting car access in designated areas except for residents, delivery vehicles and emergency services; removal of parking spaces, higher parking charges, and the installation of barriers and traffic monitoring systems besides hefty penalties for violations are necessary for its successful implementation.

Kulwant Singh Phull

Multi-storied parking can prove helpful

In the internal areas of metropolitan cities where the price of land is in yards, there is no land available for ‘No-vehicle zone’. Keeping in mind the revolution in the automobile industry and easy installments made available by financial institutions for the people to own their car, the number of vehicles has increased manifold and many of the vacant areas have been converted into parking zones with the expansion of cities. In spite of going for multi-storey parking for cars and two-wheelers, the parking for vehicles is becoming a limited area. Until and unless multi-storied parking zones are constructed, it will not be feasible to create a ‘No-vehicle zone’. The new urban areas developed by private players are focusing on multi-storey buildings and going for plantation drives keeping in mind the pollution-free environment. In the old cities, there are already a number of plants and trees. The parks are already filled to capacity with trees and plants in the internal city. There are a few places that can be used for ‘Go Green Drive’ like on the outskirts of Burlton Park , Railway Colony and other vacant lands which can be converted into green belts to keep the environment and ecological balance intact. The Improvement Trusts and PUDA have not come forward with new townships paving the way for private players to hike the prices of agricultural land to be converted into urban townships with multi-storey flat systems. The decreasing agricultural land can one day become a threat to fulfill the demand and supply of foodgrains and vegetables. It all depends upon the will power of masses and government officials on how to tackle the environmental pollution in future as the number of vehicles is increasing with each member of the family having his own car and two-wheeler. Electric cars and e-rickshaws have already flooded the market in an effort to check pollution in the coming years.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Incentivise sale of electric vehicles

With increasing density of automobiles, worsening traffic conditions is a big concern in almost all cities in our country. The manifold rise contributes both to environmental pollution and health issues due to higher carbon emission from petrol and diesel-run vehicles on roads. The residents are being subjected to severe breathing complications due to the surging content of toxic gases in the environment. Despite the horrifying pollution levels, new business houses and eateries are allowed to come up along the roads and in dense residential localities without providing enough space for parking. This not only creates environmental hazards but vehicles often parked along roads, streets or even on pavements cause a lot of traffic inconvenience to the commuters and pedestrians as well. Of late, some efforts have been made by the government to decongest the crowded places in a few cities by shifting offices/establishments to areas outside the city’s periphery but the problem continues as the space so vacated is used again to construct commercial shops or malls rather than developing public parks or parking lots there. Thus, the civic authorities will have to take effective steps to address the prevailing traffic issues, such as infrastructural improvement and illegal parking on roads, lanes or in front of shops /offices. Constructing multi-storey parking will meet the space constraints, one-way traffic movement or restricted entry of vehicles to crowded places can be helpful for easing the snarls during peak congestion hours. Besides, CCTV network should be expanded for close vigil on reckless driving to get rid of many cases of road rage reported every day. The traffic police have to be strict to tackle the rampant encroachments and stop haphazard parking by all possible means. In all, a robust action plan is desirable to prevent the desecration of environment from vehicular pollution. Like many other countries, incentivising the sale and use of electric vehicles will reduce air pollution while earmarking no-vehicle zones in cities with narrow roads across busy market areas is essential to solve the traffic woes.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Use alternative means of transport

By looking at the pollution level and traffic jams, no-vehicle zones can be beneficial in several direct and indirect ways, for health and environment. It reduces traffic congestion, especially in areas with high traffic volume. By designating no-parking zones, especially near schools, hospitals and old city shopping bazars where even walking is difficult and people take their cars and bikes, chaos is created and continued honking makes the situation worse. People park their cars without bothering about the crowd and traffic jam. Clearing these areas helps maintain better traffic flow and minimise unnecessary emission of carbon from waiting vehicles, also reduce the time spent searching for parking space and encouraging forms of transportation. School buses enter the colony bylanes to pick children which creates problems sometimes. Parents should leave their children at the main road and a little walking for the children is good. The government should encourage people to use public transport or other eco-friendly alternatives like walking which controls traffic and is good for health also. Create more public parking to avoid traffic mess. Illegally or wrongly parked vehicles should be towed away immediately, only then will it be controlled when people have to pay a heavy fine to get their vehicles back.

Shashi Kiran

Vehicle-free zones a relief from jams

If a solution like ‘No-vehicle zone’ is implemented in a real manner in our state, it will be a blessing in disguise. This is because of the fact that there has been a tremendous increase in traffic on roads in the last few years.

The result is that the state is not only witnessing pollution on account of it but is facing traffic hazards like jams and accidents. Also, as noise pollution caused by vehicles on roads is dangerous for hearing and smoke emissions from vehicles that lead to air pollution are harmful for environment, the state government should seriously ponder over this issue in the interests of its residents.

Sanjay Chawla

Select Commercial and residential areas

The concept of ‘No-vehicle zones’ in big cities to tackle the problem of increasing vehicular congestion and pollution is welcome and needs to be implemented wherever required. All major and popular commercial and shopping centres should be declared as ‘no-vehicle zone’ within the specified area with adequate and affordable parking facilities at the entry points. Further, specific areas around all private schools in congested residential areas should be declared ‘No-vehicle zone’, especially for private cars. Only school buses should be allowed in the vicinity. The possibility of exploring other busy places in the city to bring them into the ambit of ‘No-vehicle zone’ needs to be examined from time to time. Open spaces without encroachments and footpaths in such vicinities need to be built and maintained for smooth traffic of pedestrians. Separate cycle tracks in major areas of the city need to be earmarked to discourage vehicular traffic. Most importantly, as an enduring and affordable solution, local public transport systems need to be provided as a lasting solution to prevent growing vehicular congestion and pollution in the urban inhabited areas.

Jagdish Chander

QUESTION FOR NEXT WEEK

In the light of recent protests over tree felling in the region, isn’t the idea of roping in sustainable architects — who incorporate trees rather than axing them while constructing buildings — worth considering by the governments to ensure projects aim at protecting the precious flora and biodiversity of the region? This would also retain tree cover without compromising on citizens’ health and wellbeing.

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (September 26)