Non-stop driving on MG Road soon

Non-stop driving on MG Road soon
The Hindu

Traffic signals to be synchronised between Trinity Circle and Queen's Circle

# The first 40 to 60 vehicles at each halting point will get green signal as they proceed
# Installation of the system will cost about Rs. 38 lakh
# According to traffic surveys, 6,000 to 8,000 vehicles pass through Mahatma Gandhi Road every hour

Bangalore: The 2.5-km stretch of Mahatma Gandhi Road is one of the busiest in downtown Bangalore. Also, the one most likely to be clogged with traffic any time of the day and till late night.

Come May, all these may be history. A new initiative of the city traffic police is to synchronise traffic signals at six points on this road between Trinity Circle and Queen's Circle. Vehicles now have to stop at regular intervals at signals such as those at the intersection with Dickenson Road, Mayo Hall, Anil Kumble Circle and the turn towards Kasturba Road and Lavelle Road.

Synchronising traffic signals could well mean Mahatma Gandhi Road can become a no-stop zone, traffic police say. For instance, a green signal at Trinity Circle will be followed at programmed intervals with green signals at all points further on. The synchronised signals system is expected to be in place by the first week of May.

According to the police, the system will result in the first 40 to 60 vehicles at each halting point getting the green signal as they proceed. The amber and red signals will be suitably delayed for that many vehicles to pass through at each intersection. In effect, many vehicles can go all the way up to the Kasturba Road junction without stopping if they are among the first in line at a signal.

Installation of the synchronised signals system, costing about Rs. 38 lakh is being sponsored by Vijaya Bank.

This public-private partnership effort will get technology assistance from Bharat Electronics Limited, who have designed traffic signals for several cities. While the new signals may be in place by next week, the traffic police will need a few more days to try them and make any modifications in regard to timings.

According to traffic surveys, 6,000 to 8,000 vehicles pass through Mahatma Gandhi Road every hour with a concentration at Trinity Circle. With synchronised signals, a driver can save on an average five to 10 minutes.