Police turn to data analysis to rid Ggm of perennial traffic jams

COLLATING DATA

GURUGRAM: The district police have started gathering data on all traffic jams reported within the city to find lasting solutions to the problem by analysing variables such as the location, duration and regularity of the jam, and understand the possible causal factors. Since December 31, the Gurugram Police has been recording all traffic jams, reported by traffic police officers, citizens and Google Maps, at the traffic control room to identify choke points.

An officer privy to the development said, “Earlier when there was a traffic jam, we would simply inform the traffic policemen in the area and they ensured it was cleared. We never recorded it or maintained any data. But now, we are creating comprehensive data on all jams. After a month or two, we will be able to analyse the data collected and look for appropriate solutions such as changing traffic flow with one-way movement of vehicles, put up barriers or create U-turns.”

The officer said they monitor the duration of a jam on a particular stretch through the Google Maps, collect details of why the jam happened and then record it in a tabular format.

For instance, according to the traffic data accessed by HT, a traffic jam that was reported at 6.40pm at Signature Tower on January 3 was cleared by 6.55pm. The column “reported by” shows it was monitored by the police through Google Maps and the “reason” stated “accident of four cars near Signature Tower”.

Another traffic jam, this one reported by a citizen in Sector 22 at 6.40pm, was cleared at 7.10 pm, the traffic police noted the causal factor under a column labelled “reason”; it read: “routine pressure at this time as Maruti company shift is discharged”.

Citizens can report traffic snarls to the traffic control room at 9213020404. Besides citizen alerts and Google Maps, the zonal officers (ZOS) are also sending regular updates to the control room. Traffic police officers and citizens send information on traffic jams to the control room, where a team also tracks congestion through Google Maps

They monitor the duration of each jam and try to find a reason for it

This data is stored in a tabular format

At the end of two months, the police will use this data to find tactical solutions to traffic jams