‘Citizens can help solve traffic problems’

‘Citizens can help solve traffic problems’
Deccan Herald

Mr KVR Tagore requested that people themselves should record all wrongdoing by traffic policeman or motorist and send it to the police.

Huge screens at every major junction, which show a live ‘traffic map’ of Bangalore, and thus help the motorist plan his route. Traffic systems that are linked up to a set of high tech control rooms, which can centrally manage the flow of traffic.

Closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) that will beam live images of traffic from various parts of the city to the control room. Embedded sensors in the road that check the volume and density of vehicles, and control traffic systems accordingly.

The Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) KVR Tagore has many dreams for the traffic problems in Bangalore, as he revealed in an interactive session on traffic management organised by the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), in Bangalore on Monday.

If machines can do the trick, it appears that their services are really needed. Mr Tagore lamented that there were “too many intersections” - there are 38,000 of them, and he has only 1,350 out of a stipulated 1,800 manning them. However, his estimate of the number required is 6,400.

The members of the audience raised a number of issues at the session, mostly affecting areas around their houses and offices, or on the way between. Some of them were worried about what was being done to ease the situation in crowded central areas like Chikpet.

The need for people participation was discussed, with Mr Tagore requesting that the people themselves record all wrongdoing, by traffic policeman or motorist, and send it to the police. An analysis of the causes of accidents is also being done, with experts and “traffic scientists” shortlisting 30 main causes, he said.

Well-behaved cops

Mr Tagore’s dreams include well-behaved traffic police constables and officers who address the unfortunate motorist as “saar” before taking money from him. The Department of Kannada and Culture approached him with a plan to teach the policemen how to be nice, but not everyone was equally enthusiastic.



DRIVING YOU CRAZY

*16 lakh two wheelers, 3.3 lakh cars, 33,000 HTVs and 85,000 autorickshaws.
*number of accidents 3,732 so far this year, compared to 9,101 in 2004 and 10,505 in 2003.
*Money collected in fines Rs 10 crore this year, compared to Rs 11 crore in 2004 and Rs 12 crore in 2003.


NO TWO WAYS

*Waiting time at one-way junctions maximum of 90 seconds, compared to as much as 220 seconds before.
*Time less by 40 per cent
*35-40 per cent fuel saved.
*Many IT companies have agreed to go in for buses, and cut down on vehicle benefits for employees.