BENGALURU: Gridlocked Bengaluru may see better flow of traffic if the proposed Area Traffic Control System (ATCS) comes into effect. ATCS gathers information on vehicle density and movement at all junctions and communicates it to the control room at the Traffic Management Centre, enabling the traffic police to decide on the time of wait for commuters at a particular signal.
But the system is in its initial stages and will take some time before being implemented. “We are yet to convene a meeting to discuss ATCS. We will get a concrete picture once we hold a meeting. We are likely to convene the meeting in 15-20 days,” said Ms. Renuka, DCP (Traffic - North). Thousands of motorists and commuters are stranded across the city as traffic lights at junctions are not operated scientifically. In some unmanned automated signals, commuters have to wait endlessly especially between 5 pm and 8 pm, which is stressful. While the traffic police claim that the waiting time at each signal is based on the density of vehicles on those roads, traffic experts feel that there is no proper study done before setting the signal timings in auto mode.
DCP (Traffic - West) S. Girish said that the traffic management at all junctions are done based on the studies the police do on a regular basis. “The density of vehicles on a particular road will be considered while setting the traffic signal to automatic mode. If one road has high density and the other low density, then those coming through the road that has low density have to wait more at junctions, to make way for other vehicles. However, the staff posted at the junction will make appropriate changes if there is any variation in the density of vehicles.” He said, “At junctions where there are no traffic signals, the staff posted there will work according to the situation.” But traffic expert M.N. Sreehari feels that the city traffic situation is worsening by the day as there is no proper planning. “They are following the methods that were evolved decades ago. Today’s situation is entirely different from what we had a few years ago. The traffic police should focus on coordinating traffic signals meticulously. If there is proper movement at signals, obviously vehicles won’t pile up and the commuters won’t feel the heat. When most of the countries have done this, why is it not possible here? The basic problem is that the police are not working towards bringing effective solution. They should make use to scientific advancements to solve the issue.”
