To track and regulate vehicle movement, and enforce traffic rules for the safety of road users, the city police are planning to launch an intelligent traffic management system (ITMS) that will be powered by a 350km dedicated local area network (LAN).
The department has roped in a city-based private firm to implement the exclusive LAN, which will also be used by the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation and the district administration.
EMEM Telecom Private Limited in Peelamedu will execute the 8 crore project using corporate social responsibility funds from some banks, a police officer said. “The firm will install 6,000 poles across the city to support optical-fiber cables. It will also install 1,400 cameras with advanced facial recognition software . We have sent a detailed proposal to the state government to implement the system,” he said.
The cameras will be linked to the city police’s modern control room, said M Ashok, managing director of EMEM Telecom Private Limited. “The city has 42 traffic signals and police are planning to install 20 more. Public address systems will be installed at the 62 traffic signals and cops from the control room will be able to address the public across the city. Officials of the district administration and the city corporation will also use the system to make public announcements,” he told. “The project will help to save crores of rupees spent on internet facilities and maintenance.”
Meanwhile, NGO Uyir will help police to install modern traffic signals, the officer said. “We are also planning to install sensors in all traffic signals and ambulances to save lives. The sensors will detect the presence of ambulances from a distance of 300 metres and will automatically switch the green lights on to create a green corridor.”
“Coimbatore collector G S Sameeran will convene a road safety meeting on December 7 at the collectorate. We are planning to submit a proposal to get 12 crore from the state government to implement projects to reduce traffic snarls and accidents,” a senior police officer added.