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Braess’s Paradox: When More Roads Create More Traffic

Recent discussions around Bengaluru’s tunnel road and double-decker road projects have sparked concerns that these plans may worsen traffic rather than ease it. This phenomenon aligns with Braess’s Paradox, which suggests that increasing road capacity can sometimes exacerbate congestion instead of relieving it. As major Indian cities like Kolkata and Bengaluru grapple with severe traffic jams, understanding this paradox becomes crucial for designing sustainable urban mobility solutions.


What is Braess’s Paradox?

Braess’s Paradox, formulated by Dietrich Braess in 1968, states that adding extra capacity to a transportation network can reduce overall efficiency if individual drivers selfishly choose their fastest route.

  1. How It Works:

    • When a new road is introduced, drivers aim to reduce their travel time by switching to the new route.

    • This shifts traffic and increases congestion across the entire network.

    • Instead of improving traffic flow, the additional road creates bottlenecks and longer commute times.

  2. Real-World Examples:

    • New York City (1960s): After closing a major street in Manhattan, traffic improved rather than worsened.

    • Seoul (2003): The removal of a six-lane highway reduced traffic jams and improved public mobility.


Why is Braess’s Paradox Relevant in India?

Indian cities are witnessing rapid urbanization and increasing vehicle ownership, leading to severe congestion. According to the TomTom Traffic Index (2023):

  • Bengaluru ranks among the most congested cities globally.

  • Kolkata faces significant traffic delays, impacting economic productivity and air quality.

  • Bengaluru’s Tunnel and Double-Decker Roads:

    • These projects aim to ease traffic flow, but experts warn they might increase congestion if not integrated with a broader mobility plan.

    • Such developments often attract more vehicles, causing a traffic rebound effect.

  • Urban Policy Challenges:

    • Over-reliance on road expansion ignores the root cause—uncontrolled private vehicle growth.

    • Infrastructure projects without public transit upgrades may fail to reduce travel time.


Solutions to Traffic Congestion

  1. Rethinking Urban Mobility:

    • Shift focus from road expansion to traffic demand management.

    • Implement congestion pricing to discourage non-essential trips during peak hours.

  2. Improving Public Transport:

    • Expand metro networks, bus rapid transit (BRT), and suburban rail.

    • Ensure affordability, frequency, and last-mile connectivity.

  3. Promoting Sustainable Transport:

    • Invest in pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and cycling lanes.

    • Encourage carpooling and shared mobility to reduce vehicular density.

  4. Policy Innovation:

    • Adopt integrated mobility planning to synchronize road networks with public transport.

    • Implement smart traffic management using AI and IoT for real-time traffic monitoring.


Global Best Practices

  1. Singapore’s Electronic Road Pricing (ERP):

    • Dynamic tolls based on traffic density reduce road congestion and fund public transport.

  2. London’s Congestion Charge:

    • Charging vehicles entering high-traffic zones reduced congestion and improved air quality.

  3. Paris’s Car-Free Zones:

    • Restricting vehicle access in central areas encourages walking, cycling, and transit use.


Way Forward

  1. Evidence-Based Planning:

    • Conduct traffic impact assessments before infrastructure expansion.

  2. Behavioral Change:

    • Promote a culture of public transport use through incentives and awareness campaigns.

  3. Policy Coordination:

    • Align urban transport policies with climate goals to reduce vehicular emissions.


UPSC Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding Braess’s Paradox:

  1. It states that adding new roads to a transportation network always reduces traffic congestion.

  2. The paradox is relevant when commuters choose their routes independently.

  3. Solutions include improving public transport and promoting sustainable mobility.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3


UPSC Mains Question

Q. Discuss the relevance of Braess’s Paradox in addressing urban traffic congestion in Indian cities. Suggest alternative strategies for sustainable urban mobility.

(GS Paper 3 – Infrastructure & Urban Planning)


 
 
 

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