manoj

Time: 3.30 pm. It’s business as usual at the Delhi Traffic Police control room at Teen Murti Lines where three cops sit monitoring images flashing on their screen from cameras at nine busy intersections in the city. Their job is simple — they have to closely watch the live images, spot offenders and send out challans sitting in the control room.

‘‘There is a marked change in drivers’ behaviour. People have started following basic rules like braking before the stop line and wearing seat belts, perhaps because they feel Rs 600 is too heavy a price to pay for such petty offences,’’ sub inspector (SI) M P Singh (man manning the control room) said.

He added Tuesday was even better.‘‘People seemed even more disciplined than what we saw on Monday. This is a welcome change as it will make our job simpler. We will have to send out lesser challans sitting in the control room,’’ he added.

Of all the intersections where cameras have been fitted — which include crossings at Rajghat, ITO, W-point on Tilak Marg, Laxmi Nagar, CGO complex, Vikas Minar, Statesman building in Connaught Place and Vishwa Yuvak Kendra — officials at the control room feel that the difference is best felt at Laxmi Nagar crossing and Rajghat.

‘‘The scene at these spots was quite chaotic till last week when all the vehicles stopped after the stop-line and most were even jumping traffic signals in the absence of policemen. Even buses stood just anywhere and most bus drivers drove without uniform. These offences seem more controlled now,’’ he further added. He said the cameras can’t track overspeeding or use of s so he can’t say if there’s been a change vis a vis these offences. JCP (traffic), Qamar Ahmed added: ‘‘There is a visible improvement in driver behaviour and conduct, but lots more needs to be done still.’’

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Delhi Edition)
Date Of Publish: 11-Apr-07

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