Chennai: The integrated traffic management system (ITMS), developed by a private firm in the city which completed the first phase of its implementation, hit a roadblock with officials terminating the project last year. But, now, the project has found support with the high court and the general public who see the project as a panacea for the never-ending traffic woes.
Techies who were behind the making of ITMS say, “ITMS is a comprehensive traffic management system, encompassing state-of-the-art technologies. The system is in place at 11 points in the city and is functioning well.”
They add, “The system involves having dedicated wireless infrastructure covering main junctions. Patrol vehicles can communicate with the control room through the secured wireless hotspot installed in all the junctions. ANPR(automatic number plate recognition) camera system for automatic booking of traffic violators is also intalled at these junctions. Private mobile network often gets jammed whenever there is an incident like bomb blast and people find it very tough to communicate with the police control room. During such emergencies, peole can directly communicate with the control room through the emergency call box system installed at these traffic junctions.”
The high court formed a committee to consider the viability of the project and which is to file a report in the coming week on the continuation of the project further. The termination of the project was also stayed by the court.
Top officials with the transport department say, “Advanced systems like this have their precursors in foreign countries which allow the violation to be recorded on camera and the system generates challan. Such kind of system will deter the violators. Drivers should know that they are under constant surveillance, which a manual system cannot provide.”
In the last one year, the city roads added more than 2 lakh vehicles of which two-wheelers form 58 per cent and motor cars, 18 per cent.
Prof K.P. Subramanian, former professor of Urban Engineering in Anna University, says, “Tamil Nadu has been forward in using technology in managing traffic but the efforts have to continue. The ITMS allows such a scenario. And at all times the physical contact between the violators and the implementing agency has to be avoided and be minimal.”
“The vulnerability of the present manual system is high. If there is no policeman present, people jump the signal. This perspective has to change and an advanced technology-enabled system will restore faith of the law abiding road-users.”
He adds, “Replace personnel with technology on roads and already there is a shortage of personnel. Therefore, careful strategising would allow the personnel to be mobile. ITMS is the way forward and other systems including intelligent transportation which is already being implementated in a phased manner. The present system has to be replicated and upscaled.”
Mr P. Murugan, a professional in the city, says, “Many a time, I have seen people jumping signals when no police are watching. This discourages motorists who wish to follow rules. And looking at the increasing number of vehicles, the situation will get worse if proper steps are not taken.”
