Dec 19, 2014
The operation of emergency service vehicles in and around Bengaluru is all set to be smoother, thanks to tech-savvy traffic police. With a view to facilitate the swift movement of ambulances and fire brigade vehicles, the state government will synchronise traffic signals at several busy junctions of the city with the siren sound of these vehicles.
When the vehicles, fitted with the siren synchronisation technology, approach the designated junctions, the traffic signals open to give right of way to the ambulances and fire service vehicles, facilitating their uninterrupted movement. Announcing this in the Council, Home minister KJ George said, "The Bengaluru City Traffic Police have identified 300 busy traffic junctions in various parts of the city for the project. To begin with, we are considering implementing the technology in 80 ambulance vehicles and 90 fire brigade vehicles."
The government will implement the technology under its ambitious B-TRAC programme on a pilot basis in Bengaluru. Subsequently, the home department is considering extending the project to other cities as well, according to the reply given by the state government to Congress MLC R Dharmasena.
Sources in the home department said the increasing traffic had made it tough for ambulances and fire service vehicles. "There were even instances when ambulances with patients and fire services tending to distress call were caught in traffic jams for hours," said a senior official.
When the attention was drawn towards the busy junctions where cameras and signals have turned defunct, George replied, "Some the police stations in Bengaluru have reported about the defunct cameras and signal lights in their jurisdiction. We have already directed officials to outsource the maintenance of these signals and cameras. In case those signal panels are damaged beyond repair, they will soon be replaced with new ones to facilitate the implementation of the latest technology."
The operation of emergency service vehicles in and around Bengaluru is all set to be smoother, thanks to tech-savvy traffic police. With a view to facilitate the swift movement of ambulances and fire brigade vehicles, the state government will synchronise traffic signals at several busy junctions of the city with the siren sound of these vehicles.
When the vehicles, fitted with the siren synchronisation technology, approach the designated junctions, the traffic signals open to give right of way to the ambulances and fire service vehicles, facilitating their uninterrupted movement. Announcing this in the Council, Home minister KJ George said, "The Bengaluru City Traffic Police have identified 300 busy traffic junctions in various parts of the city for the project. To begin with, we are considering implementing the technology in 80 ambulance vehicles and 90 fire brigade vehicles."
The government will implement the technology under its ambitious B-TRAC programme on a pilot basis in Bengaluru. Subsequently, the home department is considering extending the project to other cities as well, according to the reply given by the state government to Congress MLC R Dharmasena.
Sources in the home department said the increasing traffic had made it tough for ambulances and fire service vehicles. "There were even instances when ambulances with patients and fire services tending to distress call were caught in traffic jams for hours," said a senior official.
When the attention was drawn towards the busy junctions where cameras and signals have turned defunct, George replied, "Some the police stations in Bengaluru have reported about the defunct cameras and signal lights in their jurisdiction. We have already directed officials to outsource the maintenance of these signals and cameras. In case those signal panels are damaged beyond repair, they will soon be replaced with new ones to facilitate the implementation of the latest technology."
