Bedi's first move to divert two-wheelers, cycles and other slow-moving traffic from main roads to side roads was ill advised and stemmed from poor understanding of the city. The slow carriage ways are meant for vehicles turning into sector markets and to facilitate smooth entry of vehicles from sector markets to main roads. Not only are these side roads in poor condition but they are invariably crowded with the parking spill-over of the sector markets. This move, as the day-long experiment showed, would not have eased matters at the roundabouts and only added to chaos in those stretches where traffic now is comparatively smooth. Fortunately, the experiment was given up within hours and before the people had much to complain of. Bedi's other plans, including the one to harness youth power, will help forge an intrinsic link between the police and the city's young.

As is well known, traffic management is Bedi's penchant, but before she plunges into the city's traffic problems, she should carry out a detailed study of city traffic and related problems. While fear of the crane is expected to inculcate a long overdue parking sense among people in the city, there are some areas which need serious consideration. There is an urgent need for cycle tracks not only along main roads but also along sector roads.

Despite the city having a preponderance of youth, this is one area which has been neglected, possibly because the VIPs, whose wards are well protected, have never felt the need for cycle trails. Similarly, with increasing vehicular traffic, cycle rickshaws may have to be banned in busy market places such as sectors 17 and 22, at least during peak hours. Most slip ways, which have been built recently, need to be aligned properly (in some places this will require chopping a few trees, which should be done without delay). The city's public transport system should also be made need-based.

Some of these things could be achieved with the UT Administration, the Municipal Corporation and the city police chalking out a joint strategy. But there are other areas which require deliberation at higher levels. For example, roads leading into the city and out of it need to be upgraded at the earliest. In the long run, since Chandigarh and its surrounding townships such as SAS Nagar, Kharar, Dera Bassi, Zirakpur, Banur, Panchkula, Pinjore and Kalka are getting closely intertwined, it is time to push the metro rail project linking these areas with the city, more seriously.