Traffic alert display boards to be placed at important points

Traffic alert display boards to be placed at important points

The Hindu

Immediate steps to ease traffic to be implemented in a week

# Cameras to be installed at important places
# Signals to be reset and synchronised
# Some roads may be made one-ways and two way traffic may be allowed on some one-ways

BANGALORE: The city police will soon install traffic alert display boards and traffic monitoring cameras in central areas of the city and on some important roads as part of steps to ease traffic congestion.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Security) M.N. Reddi told The Hindu on Monday that bringing down the congestion level on the roads is top on the agenda of the traffic police.

"We have planned a series of immediate measures, categorised as intelligent transportation, management, engineering and enforcement, to ease traffic congestion in the central areas and on Airport Road and Hosur Road. We will start implementing them in a week's time," he said. Under the intelligent transportation, the police will use technology for reducing congestion. Traffic monitoring cameras, that will have 360 degrees movement, will be installed on high masts at important places, he said.

Officials in the control room will monitor the traffic situation with the help of the cameras. Traffic alert messages will be displayed on electronic-display boards to be installed at important places. Public can know about the traffic jams and take alternative routes, Mr. Reddi said.

Monitoring

Senior officials can know about traffic hold-ups through the monitoring cameras and better supervise the work of their subordinates, he said.

As the volume of traffic in the city has gone up considerably, there is need to reset the signals accordingly. Thus, to have "smarter signals," the signals will be reset and synchronised, Mr. Reddi said.

Senior officials are considering whether some more roads have to be converted into one-ways or allow two-way traffic on some of the one-ways. Restricting certain types of vehicles on some roads and restricting vehicles on some roads during a particular time is also being worked out, he said. As part of engineering measures, some drains will be closed, roads will be marked and geometry of the junctions will be altered, he said.

Corruption

Steps are also being taken to ensure that every one is compliant to the law and the traffic policemen on duty enforce the laws strictly. The policemen have been warned that action will be taken against those indulging in corrupt practices and those who fail to act against violators, Mr. Reddi said.

Public can directly lodge complaints with senior officials with regard to corruption or harassment by traffic policemen, he said, while emphasising that curbing corruption among traffic police was his priority.