Japan-funded project to reduce traffic congestion in Bengaluru

Japan has pledged to provide India with a grant of over Rs 72.86 crore to fund a project, which is expected to reduce traffic congestion in Bengaluru by 30% over the next five years.

Kenji Hiramatsu, Tokyo's envoy to New Delhi, and S Selvakumar, joint secretary in the Ministry of Finance in the Government of India, on Wednesday signed and exchanged the notes for the Japanese government's grant for the implementation of the Advanced Traffic Information and Management System in Bengaluru.

Tokyo committed a grant aid of 1.276 billion Japanese Yen (Rs 72.86 crore approximately) for installing the system, including signalling devices and traffic congestion length measurement sensors, in the heart of Bengaluru.

"It is expected that this project will contribute to strengthening connectivity and industrial competitiveness of the local economy by improving traffic congestion and urban environment," the Ministry of Finance said in a press release on Wednesday.

The project is expected to be completed by 2019.

Traffic congestion in Bengaluru is currently reaching a length of 550 m in the worst cases.

A note issued by the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi stated that the Advanced Traffic Information and Management System would cut the length of the traffic congestion in Bengaluru by 30% by 2022 - three years after the completion of the project - particularly at those interchanges currently witnessing the worst traffic jams.

The new system in Bengaluru will utilise the advanced technology provided by Japan. A spokesperson from the embassy said that the new system would "contribute to enhancing the convenience of urban transportation and revitalising the local economy".

BoX

Traffix

Japan aid for project Rs 72.86 crore

Project to cut congestion by 30% in five years

Technology involved

* Advanced Traffic Information and Management System

* Signalling devices

* Traffic congestion length measurement sensors