Even after almost two years of launch of Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS), traffic police still cannot issue challans for red light violation using ITMS
The Assam government launched phase-I of the Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) under Smart City projects in August 2022. Gradually the Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL) installed ITMS at other junctions also, but ironically, the system is still not successful and the main purpose of the ITMS is not being served.
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A source in the traffic police talking to GPlus said, “With the help of ITMS police still cannot impose fine on drivers crossing the signal because there is no marking,” adding that it has to be done by Public Works Department.
A senior official of PWD said, "When the first phase of ITMS was flagged off, we were asked to upgrade the markings on the roads. Earlier, we were not willing to do the work as no fund was sanctioned. Later, when GSCL agreed, we did the job. However, those bills are still pending.” The official further said that additionally, PWD was ordered to renovate parts of Six Mile junction beneath the flyover, and the Khanapara junction. The entire work cost around ₹70-80 lakh. “Now, even if we are asked to mark the roads near traffic signals it won't be possible as there is no fund at all. We have even discussed with the district administration that even if it is for the city's infrastructural development, we are helpless. Only after clearing the previous dues and providing additional funds to start the new project we will be able to do something," said the PWD official.
"The continuous breaking and making process have deteriorated the present condition of the roads. The markings, which were done earlier, erased due to such works. Even if we mark them again there is no assurance that it will remain the same," the official further added.
It is not only the issue with the ITMS, there are others too. The planning of ITMS at certain points is also questionable.
A resident of Birubari, Nitul Das, who often travels to Guwahati Club talking to G Plus said, “Before the ITMS was installed at Ulubari, the traffic used to be less. I used to take the usual route which is BK Kakati Road, B Borooah Road and reach Guwahati Club area.” He said that now after the ITMS was installed it is very difficult and he has to travel through some by-lanes to avoid Ulubari point traffic jam. He also said that when the police man the traffic at Ulubari junction the traffic movement is better.
A source in Paltan Bazar traffic police said, “ITMS at Ulubari point is mostly not helpful to the police. During peak hours when the volume of vehicles is more, the traffic has to be manually managed by police,” adding that despite ITMS police personnel have to be deployed for managing the traffic.
Similar issues are observed across the city, as in AK Azad Road there are ITMS installed at all the junctions, but the ITMS is used to manage the traffic only at Lal Ganesh, while at rest of the junctions like Barsapara, Saukuchi, Cycle Factory and so on the traffic police have to manage the traffic manually.
A senior official of the traffic police talking to GPlus said, “It is not that ITMS is not functioning, but during huge volume of vehicles at certain points traffic is manned by police personnel manually,” adding that it is the decision of the police personnel deployed at the junction.
When ITMS was launched its features was to Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS), which is a solution that automatically adapts the timings of traffic lights based on real-time traffic conditions to optimise flow of traffic. Automatic Number Plate Recognition System (ANPRS) that allows traffic personnel to recognise the number plates of violators and find them easily. Red Light Violation Detection (RLVD) wherein traffic police can pinpoint people who violate traffic signals at the given junctions. Speed Violation Detection (SVD) which helps speed violation detection that curbs over-speeding in city streets. The system can also recognise riders without helmets or triple riding, and serve E-challans accordingly.
From all the features the traffic police can send e-challans to riders without helmet. A senior police official said, “Around 300 challans are sent for not wearing helmets everyday with the help of ITMS,” adding that if the infrastructures are improved other violations can also be detected and fined.
The project had an estimated budget of ₹78.44 crore and the system was built by Technosys Security. CCTV cameras were installed at major junctions to ensure seamless traffic, check violations and serve E-challans.
In the first phase, ITMS covered 20 junctions from Nepali Mandir to Khanapara. In the second phase 30 junctions were expected be added into the system and finally, in the third phase, 44 more junctions were expected to be added. Finally, a total of 94 junctions were to be installed with ITMS. A source in GSCL said, “Till now 65 junctions are covered and the rest is not yet covered because of construction and other infrastructural plans.”
The ITMS at AK Azad Road will again witness change as the Lal Ganesh – Cycle Factory flyover construction has just started and after the completion the requirement of ITMS will be different.
Many such dynamics will change across the city. And till now the system is still not successful.
A senior official of GSCL talking to GPlus said, “I agree that the ITMS is yet not fully successful but gradually it will be helpful,” adding that with traffic police a feasibility study is being carried out to understand which junctions in Guwahati require ITMS. Regarding not providing funds to PWD, the official said that some amount was provided and PWD has fund crises but gradually everything will be done.
It also needs to be mentioned that the company which was awarded the project was previously blacklisted in Madhya Pradesh. ITMS installed in Guwahati is below the national standards. Chennai’s ITMS is much more intelligent, their system uses GPS-based Vehicle Tracking System which monitors performance and also shows location, speed and expected time of arrival of city buses, a major feature which is not there in Guwahati. Another aspect of Chennai’s project is the Variable Message Sign (VMS) system, which was installed at 17 locations. Motorists get information on road blockage and alternative routes as well. Chennai’s ITMS also has Vehicle Incident Detection System (VIDS) at 58 locations, Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) at 115 locations and Probe and Internet Systems all of which are missing in Guwahati’s ITMS.
Whatever features are available in Guwahati even those are not fully functional and the success of ITMS remains a distant dream.