Omnibus mobility authority welcome
The Karnataka government’s decision to set up an omnibus authority comprising various agencies to draw up a comprehensive mobility plan for the city is welcome. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) Bill tabled in the Assembly by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai recently seeks to establish a ‘Transport for London’-like body that will bring coordination and cohesion among the multiple agencies that currently handle Bengaluru’s traffic, often working in silos, or even at cross-purposes. The Bill, however, will have to wait till December when the legislature reconvenes for the winter session, and the government should use this window to consult with civil society and traffic management experts to plug any shortcomings.
