CM to launch MTRAC tomorrow

September 4, 2014

Mysore:

It envisages technology-driven management of traffic in city

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be launching the Mysore Traffic Improvement Project — MTRAC — at a programme in the city on Friday.

The MTRAC project was scheduled for inauguration on August 22, but was put off at the eleventh hour following the death of writer U.R. Ananthamurthy. Mr. Siddaramaiah will now launch the project at the Karnataka Police Academy’s new auditorium at 10 a.m. on Friday, according to a press release here.

The MTRAC, an ambitious technology-driven traffic management project, which will be implemented at a cost of Rs. 40 crore, seeks to adopt the latest technology to make transport more efficient.

Mysore, which has a population of about 12 lakh, has more than 6.5 lakh vehicles, said Police Commissioner M.A. Saleem. “We don’t want Mysore to go the Bangalore way,” he said.

Ensuring smooth flow of traffic has become a huge task and using technology to enhance management has become the need of the hour, he said.

The MTRAC framework includes setting up a Central Area Traffic Control System for junction improvements, interlinking of signals, street furniture and road marking in addition to introducing a Corridor Traffic Control System featuring Intelligent Transportation Systems, including signal progression and VMS.

Source:The Hindu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About, TrafficInfraTech

NH toll plazas in State hike rates

September 2, 2014

The next time you travel to Puducherry via Tindivanam or to Tada falls and Vellore, you will have to pay a higher toll.

The fares at the Tindivanam and Karanodai toll plazas have been hiked from September 1, based on the increase in the wholesale price index (WPI), an index that measures and tracks the prices of wholesale goods. It is also a measure of inflation. A total of 22 plazas under the control of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the State have increased their rates by 5.98 per cent.

V. Chinna Reddy, Chief General Manager (Technical), NHAI, said that in 2012-13, the WPI was 167.62 and in 2013-14 it was 177.64. “This is an increase of 5.98 per cent, which is reflected in the rates. The increase is done every year so as not to put too much of a burden on motorists,” he said. At the Tindivanam plaza, motorists will have to pay Rs. 39, LCVs Rs. 68 and trucks and buses Rs. 137 for one-way travel. Similarly, for those using the Karanodai plaza, cars will have to pay Rs. 44, LCVs Rs. 77 and trucks and buses Rs. 154. P. Murugesan, a cab driver from Nesapakkam, who travels often to Puducherry and Tiruchi, said the hike was not justified as vehicle owners had already been spending quite a bit on fuel. “Some middle and lower-middle class customers grumble when it comes to paying toll rates. They say as it is they have to shell out a lot for the travel. Very few customers don’t mind paying as the road is good,” he said. Though the distances between toll plazas range from 50 to 60 km, the rates are very different. “Uniform rates would be helpful,” he added.

Source:The Hindu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About, Toll Pricing

Now, see your tweet traffic in real time

September 1, 2014

Now, you can see how your tweet traffic is doing in real time as the microblogging site Twitter has opened up its analytics dashboard for all users.

The feature was previously available only for advertisers and verified users. It is an analytics dashboard that lets users see how much mileage their tweets are receiving, Techcrunch reported. The idea is for users to get an idea of how many people are viewing their tweets. “Absolutely thrilled to open up access to http://analytics.twitter.com to everyone,” read the tweet by Twitter engineer, Ian Chan

Source:The Hindu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About, Tech

“Hyderabad will be developed as ‘Global Smart City’”

September 1, 2014

Minister for Irrigation T. Harish Rao said the government was committed to develop Hyderabad as a ‘Global Smart City’ and showcase as an ‘investor-friendly’ destination by implementing the assurances made by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India).

At the concluding ceremony of the 3{+r}{+d}edition of CREDAI Hyderabad Property Show, 2014 on Sunday, he said the State welcomed all communities to stay in Hyderabad and that in two years, the government could assure 365 days of power and water supply. “We will issue the GO on rationalised seigniorage fee to Rs. 3 per square foot of built-up area very soon. We can see a boom in the real estate sector in Hyderabad from 2015 onwards,” he said.

National president CREDAI, Shekar Reddy said Telangana had set an example for other States to follow, with Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s assurance to remove unwanted NOC, single window approval and removal of VAT and Non-Agriculture Tax (NALA) too.

Source:The Hindu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About, Andhra Pradesh, Smart City

Traffic control tower set up

August 28, 2014

Sophisticated electronic gadgets to be used

A traffic policeman monitoring movement of vehicles using the newly installed surveillance cameras at Anna statute in Dindigul on Wednesday.— PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN

The district police set up a traffic control tower with all sophisticated electronic gadgets at Anna statue junction here on Wednesday not only to regulate traffic but also for effective surveillance.

Inaugurating the tower, Superintendent of Police T. Jayachandran said the tower had been installed at an estimated cost of Rs.4.5 lakh. The tower had a public address system and a speed dome camera that would cover four streets.

The police manning the tower would regulate traffic on Sub-Collector Office Road, Tiruchi Road and Chatram Street and a link road. The electronic equipment attached with the camera had the capacity to store data for one month, he added.

AC control tower

An air-conditioned traffic control tower would be set up at Periyar statue junction connecting AMC Road, Salai Road, Main Road, Tiruvallur Road and AMC Road. Fifteen CCTV cameras and five speed dome cameras would be fitted at this junction.

The total cost of the project was Rs.10 lakh and installation work was in progress. This work was being executed with the help of a Madurai-based advertising company. It would be opened shortly, the SP added.

The traffic police had set up a control room and installed surveillance cameras at Tiruchi Road-Palani Road junction last month.

Source:The Hindu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About, Traffic

Parking lot to hold 2,000 cars

August 27, 2014

There are indications that the booming IT hub of Siruseri will soon get a multi-level car parking facility that should accommodate at least 2,000 cars and 50 buses at a given time.

Siruseri, situated 24.5 kms from Madhya Kailash on Rajiv Gandhi Salai (Old Mahabalipuram Road), has seen a huge influx of motor vehicles, especially with the establishment of the IT park there in 1998 by SIPCOT.

The Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC) recently appointed a consultant to prepare a feasibility study for a multi-level parking lot near the IT park.

K. Purushothaman of National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) welcomed the proposal and said that it will be of great use to employees at the Siruseri IT park.

“At present, around 60,000 people work in the IT and ITES sectors and that number is expected to go up to 1.2 lakh in two years. It would also be great if a parking lot is earmarked for buses. At present, the buses are parked on the roads and no facilities are available for the drivers,” he said.

Sources in TNRDC said that the Salem-based consultant will take six months to complete the work that includes preparation of a detailed feasibility report that will also study how much parking fees can be collected and how much space can be set apart for commercial development so as to make the project commercially viable.

Along with the parking lot, TNRDC has planned additional facilities including an amphitheatre, a food court and children’s play area on the five-acre piece of land.

Source:The Hindu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About, Parking

Consider smart cards for motor vehicle policy holders: HC tells Centre

August 27, 2014

The Madras High Court on Tuesday called upon the Department of Banking and Insurance to consider issuing cashless smart cards to motor vehicle policy holders by public and private sector insurance companies so that accident victims could get the best and timely medical aid.

The First Bench, of Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice M. Sathyanarayanan, passed the order on a writ petition by A.P. Suryaprakasam, an advocate, who said several accident victims, belonging to poor families, suffered untold hardships for want of quality and timely medical aid. In most of the hit and run cases, vehicle drivers did not come forward to help victims because they themselves could not afford to meet the initial medical expenses. Hence, he made a representation to the Department to direct all insurance companies to issue smart cards to vehicle owners at the time of issuing the insurance policy. The cards could be used by the person causing accident to admit the victims in the nearest hospital for timely and quality treatment during the Golden Hour.

Policy decision

Disposing of the petition, the Bench said the matter involved a policy decision. It was for the Department to examine the suggestion within three months and communicate the decision to the petitioner.

This will help accident victims get the best and timely medical aid

Source:The Hindu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About, Smart City

Traffic penalties in mobile app

August 27, 2014

The Gurgaon Police on Monday added the traffic penalties feature to its Mobile App in a bid to increase public transparency. It is the third feature added to the App.

Speaking on the occasion, Police Commissioner Alok Mittal said it was aimed at helping the masses know about various traffic offences, fines associated with them and relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Mr. Mittal said offenders could now know the penalty for a violation within a few seconds with the help of this feature. This meant that police personnel could not fool or seek bribe from motorists. The aim is to empower the motorists, said Mr. Mittal.

“For example, if someone is caught not using a seat belt or wearing a helmet, one can now know the fine amount. If a cop is demanding a higher fine, the commuter cannot be fooled,” said Mr. Mittal.

The App was launched by the Gurgaon Police three months ago in a bid to bridge the gap between citizens and the police. Launched across major platforms like Android, iOS and Windows Phone, it is simple and many features do not need Internet access.

Source:The HIndu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About, Tech

Air Conditioned Bus Stop

August 25, 2014

Hi folks, it was a fantastic idea I got from a small temple town of Tamil Nadu called kumbakonam,. This town’s all bus stands are air conditioned. And the municipal corporation pays zero amount for its maintenance!
Getting curious. For three consecutive days I visited various bus stands at various timings and found the temperature at 22 degree C, while outside temperature was at 32, which means the A/C was working.
People use this bus shelter to protect them from rain and sun.
How they did it? They tied up with city union bank and gave them ATM space in the bus shelter and there are three entrances to the bus stand. One to get into the ATM and get out after doing your banking work, mainly withdrawing money, while the other two doors; one for getting into bus shelter and other for entering Into the bus itself. Surprisingly the bus driver stops exactly at the exit door. Amazing.
Something to learn for other civic bodies across country.

Source:The Hindu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About

CCTV cameras on govt. buses soon

August 7, 2014

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has said that a process to install Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV cameras) on government buses to prevent possible crimes against women is on.

Nearly 500 busses of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) have been provided CCTV cameras and more buses belonging to other transport corporations of the State would be covered shortly.

He was speaking to presspersons at Gurmitkal town in Yadgir district on Wednesday after inaugurating a bus terminus there.

The bus terminus has come up at a cost of Rs. 2.10 crore in 2.07 acres of land. In view of lack of transportation in rural areas, where people are forced to use private vehicles, Mr. Reddy said that the department has taken action to operate more buses.

Directive

Officials have been asked to continue bus services in such areas notwithstanding the fact that it may cause up to 40 per cent loss in daily earnings.

He said that bus services would be increased during school hours to ensure that students did not suffer due to lack of transportation.

To a question, Mr. Reddy said that work on a new bus terminus at Surpur town will be taken up shortly.

Earlier, inaugurating the bus terminus at Gurmitkal, Mr. Reddy said that work on a new bus terminus in Saidapur in Yadgir taluk and a bus depot in Kembhavi in Surpur taluk would begin soon, as officials have prepared action plan.

More than 4,000 posts, including 3,091 drivers-cum-conductors, 500 mechanics and 489 clerks, remained vacant. A recruitment process to fill these posts will begin shortly, he added.

Mr. Reddy said that 100 new buses would be allotted to Yadgir division, and of these, eight buses will be run between Yadgir and Gurmitkal.

It is part of steps to prevent crimes against women

Source:The Hindu

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About, buses, CCTV Surveillance

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