Variable message signboard to inform commuters on traffic flow

Mysuru City Police is gearing up to install Smart Variable Message Signboards (VMS) in the city, to ensure road safety and also a smooth flow of traffic.

The signboards will provide real-time information about the state of the traffic and also, suggests alternative routes with minimum traffic density to road users.

The new system will be initiated under Mysuru Traffic Improvement Project (M-TRAC) to help road users. In the first phase, the police have planned to fix three signboards on select roads in parts of the city. The police have floated tenders and the process of the selection of roads and place for installing the boards is in progress.

A few years back, the state government had planned to introduce VMS in Mysuru and other major cities in the state. However, the government could fix the boards only in Bengaluru.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime & Traffic) Vikram Amte said, in order to maintain the free flow of traffic and to ensure the safety of the road users, the new system has been planned. "With the help of the signboards, road users will be informed about the density of traffic on the particular road and thus, motorists can take an alternative road with less vehicle movement to reach their destination. The boards also act as a communicator between the police and the road users as the police can alert motorists and pedestrians," said the DCP.

Kannada, English languages

Each board, measuring 2.5 X 5 feet, will display messages in both Kannada as well as English languages. The boards are being designed using Red, Green, and Blue so as to make them attractive and to make the messages visible to motorists. The alphabets will be displayed with 10 MM font size.

The information such as the state of traffic, movement of VIPs, traffic diversions on particular roads, traffic norms, benefits of wearing helmets, seat belts, dos and don'ts and other information, which will help motorists, will be displayed on these boards.

The traffic movement is usually high in the city during weekends and on public holidays. A large number of people from parts of the state and also, from neighboring states visit the city. Hence, such an initiative would help road users.