IRC 70:2017 is the Indian Standard (IRC) for guidelines on regulation and control of mixed traffic in urban areas. This guideline is essential for urban traffic engineers and planners to manage the complexities of mixed traffic scenarios. It delves into the planning, design, and operational aspects of urban roads that accommodate a diverse range of vehicle types, prioritizing safety and traffic flow. The code emphasizes appropriate road geometry, traffic control devices, and management strategies to mitigate conflicts and improve the overall mobility experience for all road users in congested urban environments. By adhering to these recommendations, authorities can create more predictable and safer travel conditions for both motorized and non-motorized traffic.
This IRC code provides comprehensive guidelines for the regulation and control of mixed traffic in urban areas. It addresses the challenges posed by the coexistence of various vehicle types, including motor vehicles, cycle-rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, and pedal cycles, to ensure safety and efficiency on urban road networks.
Key reference values — verify against the current code edition / project specification.
| Reference | Value | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Regulation & control of mixed urban traffic | Scope |
| Problem | Coexistence of fast + slow + NMT + pedestrians | Context |
| Measures | Segregation, lane discipline, speed management | Strategy |
| NMT/pedestrian | Dedicated facilities (cycle track/footpath) | Provision |
| Read with | IRC 103 (pedestrian) / IRC 11 (cycle) / IRC 106 | Cross-ref |
IRC 70 specifies guidelines on regulation and control of mixed traffic in urban areas — the methodology for managing the unique Indian urban traffic mix (cars + two-wheelers + auto-rickshaws + bicycles + buses + trucks + animal carts + pedestrians) that operates in shared road space.
Use IRC 70 when: - Designing urban arterial / collector / local roads - Smart city / urban mobility plans - Traffic management on urban corridors - Pedestrian / cyclist safety improvements - BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) integration with mixed traffic - Shared-space street designs - Tactical urbanism + complete streets
Key urban traffic challenges in India: - High two-wheeler share (30-50 % of vehicles) - Cycle + pedestrian share growing in modern cities - Auto-rickshaw + paratransit - Animal carts in tier-2/3 cities - Heavy commercial vehicle through-traffic mixed with local - High pedestrian crossing demand - Limited road width - Mixed land use along roads
IRC 70 covers: - Lane discipline + lane width per vehicle mix - Pedestrian + cyclist provisions - Speed management in urban context - Signal control for mixed traffic - Public transport priority (bus lanes, BRTS) - Non-motorised transport (NMT) infrastructure - Conflict management at intersections + crossings - Lighting + signage for urban operations
Lane width (urban): - Standard car lane: 3.0-3.5 m - Bus lane: 3.5 m - Truck lane: 3.5 m - Mixed traffic lane: 3.5 m (allows safe overtaking of two-wheeler) - Two-wheeler lane (segregated, where present): 1.5-2.0 m - Cycle lane: 1.5-2.0 m - Footpath: minimum 1.5 m (recommended 2.5-3.5 m on busy streets)
Speed limits in urban areas: - Arterial: 50-60 km/h - Collector: 40-50 km/h - Local street: 25-30 km/h - School zone: 25 km/h - Hospital approach: 30 km/h - Pedestrian-priority street: 10-15 km/h
Signal phasing for mixed traffic: - Pedestrian phase: 7-15 sec (depending on crossing length + pedestrian count) - Two-wheeler advance start (some signals): 3-5 sec head start - Right-turn phase: separate or protected - Cycle phase: dedicated where bike volume is high
Pedestrian crossings: - Marked zebra: minimum 4 m wide - Refuge island in median: minimum 1.5 m wide - Signalled crossing: at busy intersections + school zones - Raised pedestrian crossing (speed table per IRC SP 88:2019) at school zones - Pedestrian Foot Over Bridge (FOB) / subway: at high-volume + high-speed roads
NMT / cyclist infrastructure: - Painted cycle lane: 1.5-2.0 m - Segregated cycle track (raised or kerb-separated): 2.0-3.0 m - Cycle box at signal-controlled intersection (advance stop line) - End-of-trip facilities (parking, lockers)
Public transport: - Dedicated bus lane (BRTS): 3.5 m carriageway - Bus stops (IRC 80:1981) — lay-by type to avoid blocking traffic - Inter-modal hubs (bus + metro + auto + cycle parking)
Heavy vehicle restrictions: - Time-of-day restrictions (no trucks 8-10 AM / 6-9 PM in city centres) - Designated truck routes - Truck terminals at city periphery
Mixed traffic conflict zones: - Intersections (most accidents) — geometric + signal design - Pedestrian crossings — speed reduction + visibility - Bus stops — pedestrian-vehicle conflicts - Parking + un-parking — slow-moving vs through-traffic
1. Pedestrian + cyclist mixed with vehicle traffic without segregation. High accident risk. Provide footpath + cycle facilities. 2. Lane width too narrow for mixed traffic. < 3.0 m doesn't accommodate cars + two-wheelers safely. Maintain 3.5 m for mixed. 3. Inadequate signal phasing. Pedestrian phase too short; pedestrians stranded. 7-15 sec walk phase. 4. No bus lay-by. Bus stops in carriageway block traffic. Lay-by per IRC 80:1981. 5. Auto-rickshaw + cycle in vehicle lane. Speed differential causes accidents. Separate facilities. 6. No speed management in residential zone. Speeding through neighbourhoods. Calming measures per IRC SP 69:2018. 7. Inadequate pedestrian refuge in long crossings. Pedestrians stranded in middle. Refuge island minimum 1.5 m. 8. No FOB / subway at busy + high-speed road. Pedestrian fatalities. Provide grade-separated crossing. 9. Heavy vehicle through city centre. Congestion + safety + noise. Designated truck routes + city periphery terminals. 10. No cycle infrastructure in cycle-friendly cities. Cyclist mortality. Segregated cycle tracks. 11. Inadequate lighting at intersections + pedestrian crossings. Night accidents. Lighting per IRC SP 64. 12. No periodic safety audit. Accident hotspots emerge; not addressed. Annual safety audit per IRC SP 44:2019.
Urban traffic management cascade:
1. Land use + transport planning — match infrastructure to expected demand. 2. Network design: - Hierarchy: arterial / collector / local - Public transport corridors (BRTS, metro, MRTS) - NMT network (cycle + pedestrian) 3. Cross-section design (this code, IRC 70:2017): - Lane width per vehicle mix - Footpath + cycle facilities - Public transport lanes - Parking + un-parking 4. Intersection design (IRC SP 41:2005, IRC 92:2017): - Signal vs roundabout vs grade-separated - Pedestrian + cyclist phases - Right-turn movements 5. Pedestrian + cyclist facilities (IRC:103:2012): - Crossings - Refuge islands - FOB / subway 6. Public transport integration: - BRTS / dedicated bus lanes - Bus stops + inter-modal hubs 7. Speed management: - Posted limits + enforcement - Calming measures (IRC SP 69:2018) - Speed cameras 8. Operations + monitoring: - Traffic counts + accident statistics - User feedback - Iterative improvement
Modern Indian urban traffic trends: - Smart city projects + complete streets initiatives - Cycle infrastructure expansion (Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai) - BRTS implementation (Ahmedabad, Indore, Jaipur) - Pedestrianisation of central business districts - Last-mile connectivity through e-rickshaws + bike-share - Vision Zero adoption in selected cities
IRC 70:2017 is one of the foundational codes for Indian urban traffic management. Effective implementation requires multi-disciplinary integration (engineering, planning, enforcement, public engagement) — engineering provides the framework but operations + culture determine actual outcomes.
| Parameter | IS Value | International | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane Widths | |||
| Design Speeds (Urban) | |||
| Sight Distance | |||
| Pedestrian Facility Width | |||
| Traffic Calming Measures |