Guwahati: Automated traffic signals debut at 20 road junctions

GUWAHATI: The much-awaited integrated traffic management system (ITMS) was launched in Guwahati on Tuesday evening by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
An initiative of the Guwahati Smart City Limited, ITMS aims to reduce traffic congestion by automated traffic management that will be tracked through CCTV cameras. Officials said the surveillance will be done by police from a command and control centre.
"At all the junctions in Guwahati, traffic signals will now be given automatically. The operation will be centrally controlled," Sarma said. He said 20 junction points, from Nepali Mandir to Khanapara, will be operational from Tuesday. In the second phase, he said around 30 junctions will start in the second phase. The final phase will cover 44 junctions, Sarma said. "By this financial year, the entire project will be completed," Sarma said. "If someone does not wear a helmet, or violates traffic signals, it will be monitored live," he added.
Overall, 94 traffic junctions in the city will be covered in the project, which officials said will cost around Rs 78 crore.
The officials said e-challan will be dispatched to the traffic signal violators through online mode. Arrangements have been done to analyse the visuals, captured through CCTV cameras, in the office of DCP Central.
"Speed violations will be detected by the cameras. The number plates of the vehicles will be recognised automatically and evidence will be stored to prove the traffic norm violations," said a monitoring official. He said dedicated technical persons and operators will handle the system but police personnel will also be trained so that they can finally operate the system.
"The ITMS will also ensure improved responsiveness through access to police by the citizens for quick and effective response, improved visibility and transparency through intelligent dashboards and help emergency services and faster turn-around time by providing a green corridor. The project is also expected to help in effective policing and maintaining law and order using command & control centre and improving traffic discipline through enforcement systems," said a government release.
The ITMS will also facilitate live alerts in case of an event or incident.