Live streaming of traffic planned

New traffic police website to help motorists plan their routes better

A Variable Message Signboard installed recently at the Spencer’s junction on Anna Salai. Photo: R. Ravindran

The Chennai City Traffic Police is in the process of designing a new website on which it plans to stream live the traffic flow at 100 intersections. It will also instal cameras for the purpose at the junctions.

Part of the Integrated Traffic Management System that will be put in place within a few months, the real-time video feed will allow motorists to ascertain the level of congestion on arterial roads in the city.

The website will also feature a slew of other citizen-centric measures, such an online payment gateway for settling fine and an integrated complaint management system. “The public forum on the website would be completely integrated with the CCTP's Facebook and Twitter accounts,” said Sanjay Arora, Additional Commissioner of Police - Traffic (incharge). The website would also display real-time availability of parking slots along major roads and next to prominent landmarks.

Once next-generation Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras are installed at the 100 junctions, registration plate details of vehicles that violate traffic rules would be automatically captured and digitally logged along with a picture. The system would then identify the address of the offender from a database of vehicle registration certificates. Fine can be paid at any police station, at service centres that are set to come up, or through any of the 200 e-challan systems that are deployed every day.

“We are planning to equip some policemen with portable cameras to monitor offences in between the junctions. Eventually, the entire process of enforcement – from recording a traffic offence to fine payment – would be digitised. All these measures are part of our push towards evidence-based enforcement,” Mr.Arora said.

Apart from cameras, Variable Message Signboards and public interface systems are also set to be installed in all the 100 junctions. “The traffic signals would be equipped with a microphone and a pinhole camera. Anyone can press a button and talk to control room,” he said.

Terming the Integrated Traffic Management System, which is expected to cost Rs.150 crore over the next five years, as a quantum leap in policing, Mr.Arora said: “It will integrate all our activities – enforcement, traffic regulation, prioritising movement of emergency services and public outreach.”