Traffic cops ask NMMC for sensor- based traffic signals

NAVI MUMBAI: In a move to counter the growing traffic snarls in the city, the traffic police department has sent a letter to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) requesting them to replace the existing manual signals into sensorbased traffic signals.

A sensor-based traffic signal is a density based dynamic traffic signal system.

Unlike the conventional traffic signals, which allow traffic movement at each side of the junction for a fixed time, the sensor-based signals constantly keep sensing the density of traffic on all sides of the junction and send real-time feeds to the control room.

Officials said if the system is implemented, traffic congestions in the city can be eased and managed better.

“There are continuous traffic congestions in several parts of the city, especially those where the heavy vehicles ply. With the present traffic management system it is not possible to ease the traffic as the vehicles have to wait for the allotted time of 30 or 60 seconds,” said Arvind Salve, deputy commissioner of police, traffic department of Navi Mumbai.

In the sensor-based system, if the traffic density is high on a particular side, priority is given to that side.

Traffic officials said they receive regular complaints of traffic jams on their helpline number and twitter account. However owing to the present staff crunch, it was not feasible to deploy traffic constables at each and every junction.

“If the system is more regularised, we can deploy our staff in the inner roads near schools and hospitals which do not have signals,” said an official from the Belapur traffic office.

There are 40 signals under the NMMC jurisdiction. Officials from the civic body said they have received the proposal.

“The proposal is currently under discussion. We want the technology to be cost-effective and run efficiently in controlling the traffic without any glitches. The cost of the installation, repair and maintenance should also be shared by the city police,” said Dinesh Waghmare, municipal commissioner.