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Do you think that the Bandra-Worli sealink will ease traffic?
 The
Bandra-Worli sealink will release traffic congestion in areas connecting
the sealink. Unfortunately, only one phase of the sealink has been
sanctioned. That is Bandra-Worli. It will help relax traffic on
the Mahim Causeway. That does not end the matter. This could create
a greater problem between Haji Ali and Chowpatty. Unless the second
phase of the sealink from Worli to Nariman Point is sanctioned,
there is no permanent solution.
There was a proposal for vehicles with even and odd registration
numbers to ply on certain days in South Mumbai. Has that been shelved?
This was the result of a committee that the High Court had appointed
under the Chairmanship of Vinay Mohan Lal, the Transport
Commissioner, in order to bring down pollution rates and send 20%
vehicles off the roads everyday. It is not possible to stop vehicle
registrations because it has legal implications and other practical
problems. In some foreign countries, a cap is put on the number
of vehicles. In others, the optimum number of vehicles on the roads
is predecided and the rest are regulated. Keeping this end in view,
this proposal was put forth by the committee. The debate is on and
there has been opposition from some fronts. It could be implemented
after it finds favour with a large section of populace.
How are the traffic police protected from high pollution?
Anti-pollution masks have not yet gained popularity among traffic
police. We have located six oxygen concentrators at strategic points
in the city to refresh our men during their break. Extensive use
of the same is being made at the places that they have been provided.
There is need for more and we are looking for sponsors.
What are you doing to improve human resources in your department?
We conduct regular training and management-oriented programmes
to create greater awareness, commitment and motivation levels, and
to increase their effectiveness on the road. We will also add more
cars and motorbikes to improve mobility of our forces. At the moment,
traffic arrangement is more junction-oriented and men are placed
at 6 junctions. Between two junctions the areas remain largely uncovered.
We are going to see that all main arteries are continuously patrolled.
After you assumed office what are the reforms you brought about?
Technological advancement in traffic management is an area we are
handling systematically and forcefully. Also, the government is
receptive to the idea of modernising the traffic branch. We have
made many proposals to the government and we have been given positive
indications that the proposals are likely to come through. Futuristic
schemes will hold us in good stead for a long time to come.
Can you outline some of the proposals and futuristic schemes
that you plan to implement?
We want to implement a Geographical Information System (GIS)
for the entire city to aid both traffic control, law and order and
crime management.
A Global Positioning System (GPS) through which all vehicles
moving on roads in any part of the city is projected in our control
room on a map, to help us make our plan of action and to respond
to road users distress calls.
We are also planning to have visual control of the traffic arrangements
in the city. At least 100 important city junctions will be connected
with a network of close circuit televisions (CCTVs).
With the help of the central monitoring station, one can keep track
of happenings at far off places to manage traffic, plan diversions,
issue instructions and coordinate further movement down the line.
The next step would be to develop an effective communication
network. Today, we do not have communication with all our traffic
junctions, and they are under manual control. Every control room
should be connected to a wireless network, so that I can monitor
the entire city traffic from this point.
Another scheme on our agenda is the Area Traffic Control,
which is a highly computerised and automated advanced management
technique for traffic. We will experiment a pilot phase in the business
district from Opera House to Haji Ali, where the entire signal system
will be computerised and vehicle actuated. This system will
recognise the number of vehicles approaching the junction in advance
and actuate the traffic signal accordingly. This is used in most
advanced countries.
People participation will be an asset especially in local
areas. We involve NGOs, Social Action Groups, Mohalla Committees
on a regular basis to strengthen this front.
Text: Anupama Vinayak
Photographs: Vinayak Prabhu
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11:01:55 AM 
Faced
with the herculean challenge of destressing traffic chokeups in
the city, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), A N Roy
remains undeterred. His futuristic plans for efficient traffic management
have positive implications and will possibly be met with approval
from the government.
Road
repair is not under the control of traffic police but under concerned
agencies like the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), the
PWD (Public Works Department), etc. We co-ordinate with these bodies
on a regular basis, reporting to them on bad road conditions affecting
movement of traffic. But they have their own problems. I tell them
not to treat this as a routine matter since bad roads are causing
huge traffic dislocations all over the city. The Andheri-Jogeshwari
stretch on the Western Express Highway is completely broken up,
causing huge traffic jams. I am continuously pressing these agencies
into action, but that is the most I can do.
