To deal with traffic congestion during peak hours, IT firms in Bengaluru may soon be asked to reschedule office timings and adopt staggered work hours.
Besides, corporate offices and industries may also be asked to consider the feasibility of employees’ taking rotational offs on different days of the week. These are some of the solutions proposed by the police and transport departments to deal with the traffic mess in the city, according to a report in the Times of India.
Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “We have agreed to most of these proposals and are awaiting the final nod from chief minister Siddaramaiah. This will not only reduce the number of vehicles on the roads but also vehicular pollution.”
A senior police official said: “We spoke to representatives of IT companies about the rising traffic congestion on roads leading to Silk Board Junction, Sarjapur, Marathahalli, Whitefield, Old Madras Road and Hebbal Outer Ring Road. We listened to their problems and suggested staggered office hours.”
Techies however are not too convinced about the plan. They feel it will be difficult to implement since it may not suit many IT companies who have overseas clients.
K S Viswanathan, vice president (industry initiatives) of IT industry body Nasscom, said, “The industry caters to clients in different geographies with employees working in multiple shifts. The industry has, in some sense, adopted staggered timings to meet its own business requirements.”
Introduction of one-way on arterial roads, use of rush-hour lanes, banning of heavy vehicles during the day and improvements to crossroads, ramps, bus lanes are some of the other proposed measures.