Traffic signals in Delhi to have unique number; hourly updates of its status to be made available

December 2, 2013

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Somreet Bhattacharya, TNN

(Hourly updates of traffic…)

NEW DELHI: The next time you are stuck at a traffic intersection where the signal takes a long time to turn green, you can call the traffic police and register a complaint. The force is in the process of marking each signal with a unique number which a Delhiite can quote while making a complaint on the traffic helpline or the police control room.

Officials said the system will be rolled out in stages over the next few months. Signals at major intersections in Delhi are manned by personnel who control the lights depending on the pressure of traffic in the area.

Hourly updates of traffic lights to be made available. The system often creates snarls as officials controlling it have to coordinate with their colleagues at neighbouring signals to synchronize the lights for smooth flow of traffic, particularly during peak hours.

To begin with, crossings at Maurice Nagar in DU’s North Campus and Mayapuri (west Delhi) have been numbered. These identification numbers will help traffic control rooms monitor the change in signaling, whether done manually or automatically.

“We will fine tune it further to pinpoint any fault with the signaling systems so that a traffic snarl that might be caused due to a rapidly changing signal can be rectified ,” said Anil Shukla, additional CP (traffic). Traffic officials added that hourly updates of the traffic lights will be available with control rooms at any point of time.

“Even commuters who are stuck in a snarl at a signal and notice that a traffic light is creating a snarl, can inform our control room using the helpline number or the PCR number mentioning the traffic light calibration digits, and we can take appropriate action to rectify it,” said a senior traffic official.

Traffic authorities said, for the time being, a chart will be maintained at control rooms showing the positions and calibration numbers of the signal poles.

When such complaints are registered with the authorities, they will be able to pinpoint the signal using the chart and inform the local traffic official to rectify it.

“We are trying to document each signal with its timing data base and functionality and there will be no arbitrariness in the controlling . This will help us in monitoring and accountability of our boys on the field also,” said Shukla.

Source-http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com