ATC to get traffic smart card
BY A STAFF REPORTER
Traffic police will control traffic movement with the help of an ATC smart card which will be installed in VIP cars with sensors set up at traffic signals.
If you believe that the movement of the VIP cars has been inconveniencing you, you need not worry anymore. The traffic police has decided to introduce a new system called the ‘Area Traffic Control’ (ATC) in Mumbai to monitor the movement of traffic during a high-profiled personality’s visit to this city.
When a VIP visits the city, the traffic of a particular area gets temporarily suspended until the VIP car has passed through that particular locality. BEST buses, cars and even ambulances have to wait for the traffic clearance signal to move ahead.
However now, the movement of the traffic will be controlled by the traffic police with the help of an ATC smart card that will be installed in the VIP cars with the sensors set up at traffic signals.
The ATC project would be implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) and BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) along with financial aid from the World Bank. Tenders inviting bids for the ATC will shortly be floated by the MCGM.
The sensors will monitor the movement of the VIP car as it passes through a particular area and the traffic will be cleared for the next road.
Sudhir Naik, Assistant Executive Engineer, MMRDA said, “This system consists of a number of signals in a particular area that are interlinked in such a way that any signal timing change is dependent on conditions at other intersections at other places which are determined through sensors or detectors planted on the road. Under the MUTP II, the ATC system will be implemented at 250 junctions in the city in two phases. In Phase I, signal systems will be installed at 50 junctions. Following the launch of the systems, installation of similar systems at the remaining 200 junctions will be carried out with the central control room being established at the Worli Traffic Head Quarters.
Sources in the traffic police said that the ATC would be more helpful to the traffic officials in taking control of the traffic during a VIP visit to the city or during an emergency. “Normally, traffic officials have to manually switch off and switch on the signals during a high-profile visit to the city or during an emergency. Now, the traffic can be controlled with the help of the sensors installed at the traffic signals,” sources said.
Commenting on ATC, Vasant Gosavi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) said, “It is a project that will help both the citizens and the traffic officials. We will be installing the sensors in phase wise. The existing signals are in bad condition and have to be replaced. But till the standing committee of the BMC doesn’t approve the clearance of the replacement of the signals, the project cannot be implemented. So we are expecting the approval to be given by next month and it would take a-year-and-a-half for the completion of the project.”
List of junctions identified for ATC
Taraporewala Aquarium, N.S. Road
Mafatlal Gap
Vinoli-Chowpatty
Wilson College
Bandstand
Cecil Restaurant, N.S. Patkar Marg
Pedestrian Crossing at Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata Institute
Kemps Corner
Bomanji Petit Junction, A.K. Road
Stephen’s Church Junction
Villa Teressa School pedestrian signal
Dahanukar (North) at its junction with Peddar Road
Dahanukar (South) at its junction with Peddar Road
Mahalaxmi Temple
Haji Ali
Parsi Fire Temple
Charni Road Station
Roxy Cinema
Opera House
Junction of J.S.S. Marg and D.B. Marg
N. Powell Junction
Sukhsagar Junction.
Nana Chowk
Junction of V.N. Road and A.K. Marg (Forgett Street)
Bhatia Hospital Junction
Gamadia Colony Junction
Tulsiwadi Junction
Tardeo Junction
Sophia College Junction.
Portuguese Church Junction.
Bhalchandra Company Junction.
Prarthana Samaj Junction.
Bata Junction (Maulana Shaukat Ali Road and Balram Street)
Grant Road Junction.
Alibhai Premji Junction.
Navjeevan Society Junction.
Bombay Central Junction.
Junction of Anandilal Poddar Marg and M.K. Road.
Dr. C. Moraes Chowk.
Junction of Hussain Khan Dilrang Marg and M.K. Road.
Junction of Dinshaw Mulla Marg and M.K. Road.
Churchgate Junction.
B.D. Somani Chowk.
Appasaheb Garware Chowk.
Kilachand Chowk.
Ratanlal Bubna Chowk.
Air India Junction.
Jeevan Vima Junction..
Mantralaya Junction.
Junction of Madam Cama Road and M.K. Road.
Cooperage Junction.
Regal Junction.
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