THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dr. N. S. Srinivasan, 83, traffic and road safety expert and the brain behind the City Road Improvement Programme, is getting ready to release three more books online. Dr Srinivasan has already written five books – ‘Taking the high road--research in transport in developing economies (1955 – 2013),’ ‘Traffic engineering and planning under mixed traffic and other prevailing conditions in India,’ ‘Transport research in India-- analytical case studies,’ ‘Planning for the future-- solutions for India’s traffic problems,’ ‘Preventing accidents--safety tips for road users’ and another Tamil book on road safety. He told DC that the next two books are on the principles of road safety for children and road users which he would release in six months.
Originally belonging to Kalavarai near Nellore in Tamil Nadu, Dr Srinivasan has worked all over the country as a leading traffic and road expert. After brief teaching assignments in Jodhpur and Mumbai, he served the Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, from 1963 to 1976 as the head of traffic and transportation division. From 1976 to 1988, he was the executive director of the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, which was established and built by him.
“I am part and parcel of Kerala, in fact, more than Tamil Nadu. Every place is your place and everybody is your relative. I like Kerala so much and has fond memories of working along with former chief minister C. Achutha Menon, who was like a family member to me,” said Dr Srinivasan recalling his good old days.
His love for Thiruvananthapuram saw him developing WiTraC, an advanced Area Traffic Control System (ATCS) that uses wireless technology for switching the traffic lights at Vellayambalam round-about.
Dr Srinivasan advised CDAC as a research project in collaboration with Kerala Road Fund Board and KELTRON. His wife, Vijaya Srinivasan had started a movement during her Trivandrum days by launching a music group, Annapoorna Mandali, where a group of women joined together to sing devotional songs in almost all the leading temples.
