Robot warden diverts traffic in Sion-Panvel Highway, saves lives

Set up on Sion-Panvel Highway after death of two wardens; PWD to install 5 more

Showing the way: The virtual traffic warden directs motorists at Kopra on Sion-Panvel Highway on Sunday.

After successfully using a robot to divert traffic at Kopra on the Sion-Panvel Highway, the Public Works Department (PWD) has planned to install robots at five more spots along the highway, where concretisation work is under way, for the next six months.

The robot was installed around a week ago after two traffic wardens were mowed down by heavy vehicles in a span of two months. Deputy Engineer (PWD) Ravindra Patil said, “One traffic warden at Sanpada and another at Kopra were run over by a heavy vehicle in the last two months. On a busy highway, with work under way, it is life-threatening for personnel to manage traffic. Recently, the Traffic Department and PWD officials attended a exhibition in Goregaon, where we noticed this robot which could be helpful in diverting traffic during road work.”

Since the robot at Kopra has proved successful in giving directions to motorists, the PWD now plans to install five more at Turbhe, Shiravane, Kharghar, Kamothe and Vashi. “The robot is dressed in a uniform with reflectors and has a stop board in one hand while the other directs traffic. We can also put a flag in one hand. Both hands move continuously, and the robot runs on battery and generator,” Kharghar traffic inspector Pradeep Pandey said.

The robot not only ensures the safety of traffic wardens, but is also cost-effective. It costs around ₹40,000, while a warden has to be paid a salary of close to ₹25,000. “At such spots, we need at least two traffic wardens. Hence, these robots are economical. Besides, they can work even late into the night,” Mr. Patil said.

The PWD has taken up concretisation of the Sion-Panvel Highway at Vashi, Turbhe, Shiravane, Kharghar, Kopra and Kamothe. Costing ₹67 crore, the work has been under way for the last three months. “A few patches of the road were not concretised. We are wokring on those patches, and our target is of a pothole-free Sion-Panvel Highway this monsoon. We have a time limit of one year, but we are trying our best to finish the work in the next six months,” Mr. Patil said.