‘Traffic management needs coordinated effort’

Metro India News | Hyderabad

The Chief Secretary stated that traffic management and road safety cannot be confined to a single department and emphasised the need for coordinated efforts by the police, transport, roads & buildings, municipal administration, urban development and other departments.

Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan to regulate traffic congestion and prevent road accidents in Hyderabad city and across the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits. He reviewed traffic management and road safety issues extensively at a meeting with senior officials held at the Secretariat here on Thursday.

During the meeting, various issues including road safety, maintenance of traffic signals, identification of accident-prone locations and provision of faster routes for emergency services were discussed.

The Chief Secretary directed officials to strengthen the traffic signaling system in all cities, district headquarters, municipalities, urban areas and along the ORR across the State. He instructed the municipal, police, transport and other concerned departments to work in coordination to prevent road accidents and prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) at the earliest.

Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju directed officials to install signalling systems at required locations by November and December and modernise existing systems. He stressed that traffic management and road safety require coordinated efforts by police, transport, roads and buildings, municipal administration, urban development and other departments.

He called for an Integrated Traffic Data Platform to consolidate and analyse traffic data from different locations. He also suggested establishing an independent system, TG-TMARS (Traffic Management and Road Safety), on the lines of the Narcotics Bureau and TG-SAFE. Jaju directed officials to strengthen electronic enforcement, implement Supreme Court road-safety guidelines and prevent footpath encroachments. Officials said 429 traffic signalling systems are currently operating within GHMC limits, including advanced signal-control systems.

The Chief Secretary sought a comprehensive plan for deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve traffic management and road safety across Telangana. He said technology should go beyond detecting violations and focus on safer, faster and more convenient travel. Officials were asked to study the latest AI-based technologies, conduct pilot projects at suitable locations and gradually expand successful initiatives statewide. The meeting was attended by DGP C.V. Anand and other senior officials.