Ahmedabad: Smart signals to shorten your wait at 10 junctions

AHMEDABAD: You’re waiting at a traffic junction and there is significant traffic congestion in the lane where you are, but the time allowed is barely 30 seconds whereas there is very little congestion along the other lane and yet, the time allowed to pass is 30 seconds.
Frustrating isn’t it? If all works fine, technology will soon step-in to make lives easier for commuters in the city.Smart traffic signals that use sensors will be installed at some 10 traffic junctions in the city, according to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The AMC’s decision was revealed during the zero-hour discussion that took place after the standing committee meeting on Thursday.
“Smart traffic signals will use sensors and therefore, if a certain lane has more traffic congestion, the time will automatically increase while in case of less congestion, the time frame will automatically reduce. To start with, we have identified 10 junctions wherein these signals will be installed. These include ones at Panchvati, Parimal Garden, Ambawadi, Ramdevnagar, Iscon Crossroads, CN Vidyalaya, Nehrunagar, Shivranjini, Jodhpur Crossroads and Star Bazar,” said standing committee chairman, Amul Bhatt.In fact, two more crucial issues of expediting repair work along the route of Rath Yatra along with the polluted water supply in the households in the central zone were taken up for discussion. Sources confirmed that civic body plans to re-initiate the pollution control cells comprising a team of experts in each zone, to address water pollution issue.
The members discussed that the repair work and necessary barricading along the route of the Rath Yatra must be expedited. It was also revealed that notices were issued to owners of 35 dilapidated homes that fall along the route. Some 157 such notices were issued last year as well.