Don't jump that red light. A cop is watching

The new control room of the Mumbai Traffic Police is near-completion. Soon, cameras will monitor major junctions in the city and catch offenders while traffic cops will conduct more drives

The new control room of the Mumbai Traffic Police is near-completion. Soon, cameras will monitor major junctions in the city and catch offenders while traffic cops will conduct more drives

The Mumbai Traffic Police (MTP) will soon be ready with their new control room from where they can observe traffic junctions all over the city with a system called Area Traffic Control (ATC).

The new technology will not only control the traffic signals, but will also be used for visual surveillance and to detect violators of traffic rules.

In a month

THE WAY OUT: The new system will help the traffic police identify offenders and also ease congestion on roads by deploying the nearest wireless van to the scene.

The demo has already begun and work on the control room will be completed in a month's time.

Once the new technology is implemented, the 100-odd traffic cops who were earlier deployed at traffic signals will conduct drives for public safety.

The ATC will facilitate management of traffic, enforcement of law and order during special events like public gatherings and disasters.

Real-time videos

It will also be connected to the cameras placed at traffic junctions. It will collect real time videos from there and transmit the footage via an optical fibre network to computers in the control room.

According to a traffic official, "This system will help the police identify offenders and also ease traffic congestion by deploying the nearest wireless van to the scene.

"In case a motorist jumps a signal, his vehicle number will be stored in our system and he will get a notice in a week's time at his residence."

The demo has been cleared by the traffic officials and is currently awaiting approval from Mantralaya.

The ATC project will be implemented through the MMRDA and MCGM with financial aid from the World Bank.
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"Once this system is in place, traffic policemen will be free to conduct more drives for public safety," said the Traffic Department official.

Sanjay Barve, Jt CP (Traff-ic) initially refused to discuss the system, saying, "Call the astrologer.

He'll tell you the date." When pressed, he reluctantly revealed, "We haven't decided on the [implementation] date as yet. There are many technical issues that need to be cleared first."

Numbers Game

25

The number of traffic divisions in the city

2,400

The number of traffic cops in the city

800

Traffic cops on permanent VIP duty

1,600

Traffic cops on regular shifts 8am to midnight

Advantage ATC

Recording and transmission of real-time videos from 100 spots across Brihanmumbai. Records can be kept for 7
days.

Wireless Transmission through 4 mobile van CCTV systems from anywhere in the city to the traffic control room.