The variable message signboard (VMS) is supposed to give the motorist real-time information about the state of the traffic so that he can take an alternative road.
This was not so on the first day of its operation on the Rajarammohun Roy Road, near Sree Kanteerava Stadium, on Wednesday evening. The motorists coming from Mahatma Gandhi Road towards the Hudson Circle were unaware that Home Minister V.S. Acharya had come to inaugurate the VMS at the Rajarammohun Roy Road.
The traffic on Kasturba Road and Mallya Hospital Road was affected for about 30 minutes when Mr. Acharya reached the place and inaugurated it at 7 p.m.
No change
The messages on this three-metre long board did not change at all. It stated about the inauguration by Dr. Acharya and welcomed Director-General and Inspector-General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh and Police Commissioner Shankar M. Bidari.
It asked the motorists to maintain a speed of 50 kmph. “You can expect congestion at KIMCO junction because of metro work. Traffic congestion likely at the Hudson Circle between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.” These messages continued even after the Minister left the venue at 8.30 p.m.
The traffic signboards have been installed on either side of the Hebbal flyover and also near the K.R. Puram cable-stayed bridge. These four VMSs are among the 20 that will be installed in different parts of the city as part of the Bangalore Traffic Improvement Project. “The remaining 16 VMSs will be operational by August,” Mr. Bidari said.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Praveen Sood said the Bangalore police were working on providing information on VMS at Hebbal flyover about the delays in arrival and departure of flights.
Mr. Acharya said the State Government had earmarked Rs. 120 crore for traffic management in all district headquarters and in Hubli-Dharwad, Mysore and Mangalore police commissionerate areas.
Mr. Ajai Kumar Singh expressed the need for coordination between the traffic police and civic agencies, including the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, and the Bangalore Development Authority for better traffic management.
