Messages to help you decide routes

Messages to help you decide routes


E xpress News Service
First Published : 18 Dec 2008 05:56:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 18 Dec 2008 09:42:47 AM IST

new system will use data provided by cameras at roads to analyse the status of traffic.

BANGALORE: Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari conducted a steering committee meeting of the B-Trac on Wednesday and initiated action to install 20 Message systems (VMS), that would help commuters to decide which route to take, in the city.

He also asked his officials to increase the number of junctions under surveillance to 160 from the present 80, before the end of financial year.

A press note from his office giving details of the meeting states that the data provided by the cameras about vehicle density and traffic conditions, could be analysed using video analytics and disseminated to commuters through the variable Message sign system (VMS) to enable them to make an informed choice about routes.

The VMS will be installed at the main entrances to the city and at important junctions which offer alternative routes for a destination. These will also be useful during a large number of diversions of traffic which are going to become necessary in view of construction of Metro starting on reach-2 (Mysore road to Magadi road), 3 (Yeshwanthpur to Seshadripuram) and 4 (rv to K road) which are going to start in near future, he said.Police will also engage the services of system engineers and transportation experts to operationalise “intelligence Transportation system” presently underway at the Interim Traffic Management Centre. Experts will work on creating real-time knowledge of traffic conditions through different inputs and creating communication technologies for guiding road-users towards optimum choices of their travel needs.The expert will facilitate integration of all the components of Traffic Management Centre i.e, surveillance Cameras, enforcement Cameras, Traffic signals and VMS, in addition to system development and deployment, planning asset management, data centre operations traffic signal operation and server management.

“To make the roads safer, it was also decided to install 500 solar blinkers in the city to caution the commuters at critical non-signalised junctions. At the newly-constructed medians, hazard markers and median markers will be fixed to caution the drivers against hitting them. Traffic policemen will be provided with reflective jackets and rain coats as they have to be on the roads in the dark as well as rain,” he said.The BSNL has been entrusted with the task of providing the communication backbone to all the 204 new traffic signals in the next three months. Hence, all the 380 signals will be connected to the TMC by the end of financial year. All the traffic signals in the city whether new or old will have highly reflective direction boards to guide the public and encourage lane discipline. No advertisements will be allowed on the traffic signals.

Bidari requested citizens not to deface or damage road signages installed for the guidance of motorists.