The traffic police department is working on the installation of more speed guns and CCTV cameras on the speed corridors in the city and construction of specific channels to divert buses to designated stops. The moves to improve the traffic engineering were introduced after two major accidents — one at the Chingrighata crossing on EM Bypass and the other on Basanti Highway.
The cops have also decided to write to the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) yet again to expedite the construction of a foot overbridge near the Chingrighata crossing. KMDA has already started the tendering process.
“The accident at Chingrighata occurred at the spot where the proposed overbridge will come up. We shall inform the authorities that this is a critical spot where accidents invite law and order issues. We need to put in maximum infrastructure to avoid such situations,” an officer said.
According to traffic cops, introducing more technology on the accidentprone EM Bypass — especially between Salt Lake stadium and Science City — and the small Tiljala-Chowbhaga stretch on Basanti Highway was the next logical step.
“We have now issued tenders to install 70 more ANPR (Automatic Number-Plate Recognition) cameras and another 50 speed guns. The cops have also issued tenders to install 50 RLVSs (Red Light Violation Systems) to ensure that the city’s traffic monitoring reaches the next level of technological advancement. At least 15%-20% of all these cameras will be earmarked for these areas,” said a source. He added that most motorists were now aware of the locations of speed guns and they slowed down there before speeding on other stretches. “Maximizing the use of speed guns will hopefully reverse the trend,” the source added.
Source: Times of India
