Aimed at monitoring traffic signals across the city and ensuring quick repairs of signals, the Delhi Traffic Police have decided to give a unique number to all the traffic signals and blinkers so that road users can instantly register complaints about defunct signals from their cellphone.
The traffic police are working on the modalities of numbering the lights and finalising the helpline numbers to which the road users can send information about the dysfunctional lights.
All the lights will have a unique number. A helpline number will also be provided on the pole.
Any road user with a smartphone can click a picture of the non-functional traffic light and send it as MMS to the helpline number. The MMS will be considered as a complaint.
It will simultaneously go to the server of traffic police and the agency maintaining the traffic lights. The complaint will be immediately taken care of by repairing the signal.
“The initiative involves use of technology as well as people’s participation. Presently, we are preparing its blueprint. A survey is being done to find out where the numbers should be pasted on the poles so as to make its visibility universal,” said Special Commissioner of Police (traffic), Sudhir Yadav.
Police said they will also provide a number to those without smartphones. They can send SMS about dysfunctional lights to the cops.
There are around 1,200 traffic lights in the city with 790 traffic signals and 380 blinkers. Police said around 40-50 traffic signals and blinkers are dysfunctional at any given point of time. According to the new plan, police are also thinking of giving gadgets to some people, who stay closer to the lights to update about condition of lights.