Smart lights soon, to ease traffic snarls

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 6

Srinagar city, which is faced with traffic congestion, is set to get a smart and intelligent traffic lighting system which will help in smooth vehicular movement on its busiest streets and junctions.

In the first phase, 10 such smart and intelligent lights are being installed by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on the spots identified by the Traffic Police. The lights will be connected to a central control room, from where the traffic will be managed.

The Traffic Police Department has already submitted a report about identification of the spots and installation of the smart lights to the SMC and the installation work has already begun. Initially, the Traffic Department had identified 45 spots and demanded installation of the smart traffic light there. But the SMC cited lack of funds and instead asked for 10 spots, where the light can be installed in the first phase.

Subsequently, the Traffic Department identified the busiest 10 spots in uptown and downtown Srinagar and on the bypass stretch where the lighting system will be installed. The spots identified also include some of the traffic junctions where the traffic lights are not currently functional. “We need intelligent lights at many spots like on MA Road and near Tengpora crossing on the bypass. So, in the first phase, the city would get 10 smart lights, which would form part of the integrated traffic management system,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Srinagar city, Sargun Shukla.

The old lighting system, in place at many junctions in the city, worked on the preset time. If there were no vehicles on one side of the junction, the light would work as per the set time.  The intelligent lighting system is, however, connected to a central traffic control unit, manned by traffic policemen, who accordingly set the time of the green or red light at a particular traffic junction, keeping in mind the traffic flow at that time. “The intelligent lights are connected and controlled centrally and manage the traffic accordingly,” the SSP said, adding that the central control room is to be set up by the SMC, which has been tasked to implement the project.

Linked with control room 

• In the first phase, 10 such smart and intelligent lights are being installed by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on the spots identified by the Traffic Police 
• The lights will be connected to a central control room, from where the traffic will be managed
• The Traffic Police Department has already submitted a report about identification of the spots and installation of the smart lights to the SMC and the installation work has already begun