PHD CHAMBER MOOTS GPRS TO DISCIPLINE BLUELINE

PHD Chamber has suggested that 4000 blueline and 3000 DTC buses plying on the Delhi roads should be immediately hooked to the GPRS System. This involves installation of a black box in every vehicle with a back end support of comprehensive data of the vehicles like name of the owner, route, and other details. This will help in monitoring violations by the drivers and instant penalties through a computer generated penal matrix of fine linked to the type of violation.

PHD Chamber proposed this IT supported Intelligent Public Transport Management System for solving traffic problems of the metropolitan city at a meeting with the senior functionaries of the Delhi Government recently. “This is an initiative that we have proposed as part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) and reflects our commitment to usher in the much needed commuter-friendly, safe and world class transportation system,” says Mr Sanjay Bhatia, President, PHD Chamber.

The PHD Chamber proposal suggests that the project can be implemented on PPP model at a cost of Rs.150 crores annually for the next 10 years without any direct cost to the Delhi Government. The cost will be recovered from the advertisement rights on traffic intersections.  “We shall be submitting a paper on the problems of traffic and transport as perceived by the industry along with a self supporting PPP model for implementation of IPTS to the Delhi Government shortly. This inclusive model of development is perceived keeping the common man as the focus and to help spill over the benefits of IT driven technologies,” says Mr Bhatia.

TCS experts, which were part of the PHD Chamber delegation, proposed that IT driven solutions for chaotic transport system should be introduced at the earliest. Apart from streamlining the transport system, it will eliminate subjectivity and corruption. The proposal also envisages issuance of a smart card to drivers, which will automatically record violations and cancellation of the driving license after three defaults. The system would also enhance the efficiency of the Traffic Police.

The system, through installation of RFID cards, will further help in checking and preventing over-loading of goods carriers, unauthorized plying of interstate vehicles in the city, control movement of vehicles in high security areas, feed data to a dedicated radio channel airing traffic update round the clock to help people avoid congested roads to make their travel smooth. Installation of CCTVs at various places in the city will bring about discipline, apart from assisting the police in maintaining law and order, efficient and timely attention to accidents and emergencies. It will also help collate data for estimating the traffic volume for better traffic planning, apart from linking police stations and check posts on a Wide Area Network (WAN).

PHD Chamber has also suggested levy of congestion charge in certain areas in Delhi as is being done in Singapore and other cities.  As compared to Kolkata, Delhi has more road space and offers an opportunity for implementing a one-way system on several major roads during peak hours. This would make 6 lanes available for flow of traffic instead of 3 at the moment.

The other suggestion was development of an inter modal smart card which would enable commuters to travel on all modes including ring railway, metro,  DTC buses and auto rickshaws / taxies.