City to get smart traffic system

City to get smart traffic system
Electronic Surveillance, Synchronised Signals To Be Brought In
The Times of India

Bangalore: The Bangalore police will set up an intelligent traffic management system as a long-term plan to handle growing traffic. This includes installation of electronic surveillance, synchronised traffic signals and automation systems.

Participating in the inaugural edition of Times Round Table on ‘Traffic: How To Decongest Bangalore’ at the Windsor Sheraton Hotel and Towers on Saturday, police commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh said steps have been initiated in this direction. Responding to a suggestion from Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, he sought corporate support to make it a reality.

Just as in New York, London or Tokyo, the traffic police plan to come out with an advisory through radio channels and other information systems which will help road users avoid traffic bottlenecks. Shaw announced she would arrange to sponsor digital boards on Hosur Road which could be used by police to display information.

More is being planned. Executives commuting by car may soon be able to shift to allergy-free airconditioned Volvo buses, thanks to the BMTC proposal to introduce 50 Volvo buses on a pilot basis by March 2006. BMTC MD Upendra Tripathy said an order has been placed for 25 such vehicles. KSRTC MD M.R. Sreenivasa Murthy intervened to say it would be better for the BMTC to experiment with 200 buses of a similar class.

The BMTC will introduce 500 peak-hour services to be pressed into service between 8 am and 11 am, and between 3.30 pm and 8 pm. The fares for these buses will be higher than normal. About half of these buses will be for women.

Bangalore will get a grid system to decongest the central business district. This will be introduced well before construction of the Bangalore Metro Rail commences. The BMTC has identified 27 grid routes.

BCC additional commissioner (finance) and engineer-in-chief P.K. Srihari promised that 40 BMTC bus stops identified as bottlenecks at junctions and turns will be relocated within 15 days. The BCC also agreed to set up 49 bus bays within the next four months.

Also coming...
n Traffic advisory via radio channels and other information systems
n 50 AC Volvo buses for commuters by March 2006
n 500 peak-hour service BMTC buses
n Grid system to decongest the central business district.