Soon, you won’t get stuck in traffic jams

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Chandigarh, November 3

Soon, traffic jams on city roads will be a thing of the past as the Chandigarh Administration has started work on implementing the Intelligent Traffic Light Management System in the city.

Sources said the Engineering Department had floated tenders for the project, which was expected to cost over Rs 42 crore  and was likely to be completed in a year.

The project is aimed at making  the entire functioning of the traffic  lights  smart, which will be managed from the control room.

 Under the system, all traffic lights will be synchronised in such  a way  that commuters  will be able to move without  having to stop for long at the light points. Based on the  SCOOT and ITACA technology, the system, once implemented, will reduce  the  average halting time of vehicles at the traffic lights, besides saving fuel and reducing pollution. Naresh Kumar, Executive Engineer (Electrical), Engineering  Department, said they had floated tenders for the  project on the  basis of a report received from the consultant. The report was prepared after a survey. The new system will be implemented  on Madhya  Marg, Dakshin Marg, Udyog Path, Shanti Path, Vikas Marg, Jan Marg, Himalaya Marg, Vidya Path, Chandi Path, Purv Marg, Sukhna Path, Sarovar  Path, Paschim Path and Udyan Path.  

How it works  

Sensor-based technology will be used in cameras installed at various  junctions.  The system at each traffic junction will be automated and linked to the main control room in Sector 29. 

The cameras will send footage to the control room, which will be analysed by the software to get a sense of the traffic pattern. Signals from the control room will then be sent to the succeeding junctions to maintain a smooth flow. In case of heavy traffic jams, the software, integrated with the variable messaging system (VMS), will display colour-based signals on VMS boards to alert people about the traffic volume ahead.

How it will benefit the city

The consultant, after  analysing the pattern of  fuel consumption in the city, says once implemented, the system will save  Rs 43 crore  annually.   The reduction in the number of stops will lead to smoother  traffic flow and reduced  congestion. It will result in a 10 per cent reduction in the journey time  and 20  per cent  reduction  in the  delay. Smoother traffic will mean less accidents. The  fuel economy  will  increase and help save  Rs 2,346  per vehicle annually.