Describe a transportation problem in your city/town – IELTS Cue Card

Sample Answer 1

Transportation is one of the most mandatory facilities used by the residents of a city or town. If the transportation system is not reliable, it becomes strenuous for people to carry out their daily activities with ease. Public transportation is one of the pillars that hold the economic well-being of a country in place. Nevertheless, transportation services presently are often of sub-standard quality across many cities and towns. One such issue with transportation in Kolkata, the city where I reside, that I would like to talk about is the availability of public transport in certain parts of the city. People in the southern end of Kolkata face a terrible shortage of public transport, especially after 6 pm. This issue has led to further problems like overcrowding in public transport when they are available and a massive surge in fares.

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Although the reason behind this problem is unknown to the general public, many people speculate that the quality of roads in this region is a contributing factor to this situation. Public transport drivers purposefully avoid taking multiple trips due to excruciatingly long traffic jams and the risk of accidents on the roads that are shabby for the most part and filled with potholes.

The scarcity of public transport has led to several hindrances throughout my school and college life. I have often failed to reach my destination on time, and in some instances, I have missed important classes and appointments due to this issue. Another major problem caused due to the lack of public transportation is the increased use of carpools which charge an exorbitant fare for every individual and only agree to transport a certain number of passengers. Although people tend to avoid such carpool rides, they are the only option left especially after a certain time of day.

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Vocabulary

• Tandem – (adj.) having two things arranged, one in front of the other.
  Eg: Joan’s brothers moved in tandem without looking at each other.
• Detrimental – (adj.) tending to cause harm.
  Eg: This change could have detrimental effects on the business. 
• Gridlock – (noun) a situation of very severe traffic congestion.
  Eg: Recently, Indonesia’s air transport system is facing gridlock. 
• Enormous – (adj) very large in size, quantity, or extent. 
  Eg: Florida has an enormous appetite for food. 
• Restricted – (adj) limited in extent, number, scope, or action.
  Eg: The trade between the companies got restricted due to COVID.

Sample Answer 2

In tandem with the growing number of people, the number of automobiles is also expanding and causing major traffic congestion in my city. 

Higher population density, rising number of cars, and restricted number of roadways are the primary causes of traffic congestion in Delhi. The roads are narrow in certain places, making it difficult for automobiles and other vehicles to move freely. When two-wheeler rickshaws and electric rickshaws randomly move from one road to another without following the traffic rules, the situation becomes much worse. Moreover, the number of taxis and mini-trucks on the road is enormous, which contributes to traffic problems. 

This situation has a detrimental effect on me, as it has on many individuals living in Delhi. Traffic gridlock makes it impossible for me to reach anywhere on time. To beat the growing traffic gridlock, I have to leave 30 to 40 minutes earlier than usual. I always have to check google maps in the morning to schedule my time and reach the desired destination on time. Also, I am forced to spend hours and hours on the street when I could be with my near and dear ones.

On top of that, the noise and the air pollution caused by traffic jams negatively impact my health. Therefore, I believe it is high time that the government takes strict measures to prevent the problems that cause these traffic jams, address the negative consequences, and takes necessary action. Furthermore, I believe that streets are not broad enough and that the number of private cars is growing by the day. So, I believe  it might solve the problem, if they can regulate traffic or make broader roads.

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