Cops to get exclusive app to decongest roads

System will use colour code to indicate traffic level, will enable real-time monitoring

‘Google Maps’ are for commoners. The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) will get an exclusive app to help them regulate traffic and de-congest the city’s roads.

Senior traffic police officers are already coordinating with Google Maps to de-congest arterial roads during mega events organised in the city, as well as to get real-time information and manage traffic during peak hours every day at major corridors, albeit unofficially. But soon, the personnel on the field will be equipped with an app formulated for their exclusive use, which will assist them with division-specific data.

“A team of officials from Google and the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) are developing a custom-made ‘Traffic analyser app’ for the traffic police, which will help in congestion management, benefiting the general public,” said R. Hitendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

Recently, senior police officers held a training session with officials from Google and DULT to discuss the app. A DULT official said the directorate is coordinating between Google and the traffic police for the project, and that the police are already using the app on a pilot basis.

Routes with different levels of traffic movement will be indicated in different colour codes with ‘yellow’ indicating medium traffic, ‘red’ heavy traffic, and ‘green’ low traffic. As it uses a GPS-based system, the location of the roads will be accurate. The jurisdictional traffic staff will then be able to keep a real-time check on the situation and make necessary diversions based on the colour (of the roads on the app) to ease congestion and keep traffic on the move, Mr. Hitendra added. R.I. Kasim, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic Planning), said senior officers of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police have already been trained to install and use Google Maps on their official iPads and monitor traffic in their jurisdiction on a regular basis. “After the introduction of the app, if any stretch is seen to be badly affected, a screen shot of the map will be sent on the WhatsApp group to the traffic inspector, ACP, and DCP concerned for corrective action. The top brass will be kept in the loop to ensure prompt response,” he said.