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The next time you see a non-functional traffic signal on road, all you have to do is file a complaint through an MMS or SMS and get it repaired.
In a first-of-its-kind move on the lines of New York City, The Delhi traffic police have decided to affix an unique number to each of city’s signals and blinkers so that road users can report defunct signals.
All they have to do is send the unique number of a signal or blinker to the traffic police and signal maintenance agency and the authorities will take care of the repairs.
“Many a time, we do not get to know about snags in signals on time, which leads to major traffic chaos. Now we are coming up with a system to improve efficiency of city’s traffic lights with the help of commuters” said Sudhir Yadav, special commissioner of police (traffic).
“The new system, once in place, will help road users report non-operational traffic lights. The complaints will be immediately registered with the traffic police and the signal maintenance agency Onyx, which will be responsible for sending people to repair them,” Yadav said.
The new system will increase efficiency of signals by 70-80%, he said. All the 790 traffic signals and 380 blinkers in the city will get unique numbers. A unique mobile number will also be given so that one can register his complaint through an MMS or SMS.
“We are on the verge of completing the modalities and hope to make the new system operational within a month,” a senior police official said.
To register a complaint, a smart phone user can take photographs of a defunct signal and send it to the traffic police number through MMS.
Besides, commuters also can send in suggestions about signal timings, improper display of time, etc., through the new system, which will be connected to a central server.
On an average, 50 to 60 signals go defunct on city roads every day, causing massive inconvenience to commuters.