BANGALORE: The Bangalore Traffic police will implement the Area Traffic Control System (ATCS) covering 50 junctions in the central business district (CBD) for better traffic management and to ease traffic congestion.

ATCS involves coordination between individual signals through a master controller aided by sensors and loops at intersections to read the traffic volume. Priority would be given to clear the traffic within the CBD by giving right of way to outbound vehicles while inbound vehicles would be made to wait for a while if the traffic volume is high.

A part of Bangalore Traffic Improvement Project (BTRAC) 2010, the ATCS would be implemented as a pilot project within a year, said M.A. Saleem, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East). Networking of 50 signals during the project would cost around Rs. 8 crore, he noted.

A feasibility study was recently commissioned by the Transport Training Institute and Consultancy (TTIC), Indiranagar, Bangalore. The study recommended introduction of ATCS on a pilot basis in the city.

Apart from upgrading existing signals, new signals are recommended at Lalbagh West Gate, Anand Rao Junction, Gopala Gowda Junction, Infantry Road-Queen's Road Junction, Rajaram Mohan Rai Circle, Devanga Hostel Junction, Subbaiah Circle, 1st Cross-Lalbagh Road Junction, Lalbagh Main Gate Junction, K.H. Road-Lalbagh Junction, K.H. Road-Siddaiah Road Junction and Ulsoor Road-Dickenson Road Junction.

The basic system comprises a loop of wire buried below the road surface at junctions that are connected to the vehicle detector. As and when vehicle/s stop or pass on the loops, a signal is generated to inform the local traffic signal controller.

These controllers are linked to the master controller through a cable or wireless connection. The master controller comprises the main server with PCs and regulates traffic movement.

TTIC study has recommended using Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique (SCOOT), which is in operation in many cities worldwide. SCOOT in normal operation estimates whether any advantage would be gained by altering the timings and if so, one or more timings are changed by small amounts. With some changes in signal timings, fluctuations in traffic are handled better.

The ATCS using SCOOT requires division of the network into four regions, each containing a number of nodes (signalised intersections and pedestrian crossings) and having a common end at the Majestic area/city railway station. The regions are South End Junction to Majestic, Mekhri Circle to Majestic, ASC Junction to Majestic and Trinity Junction to Majestic.

Synchronisation of signals on specified corridors, wherever possible, would also be done under ATCS. Traffic signals have already been synchronised on the J.C. Road corridor from R.V. Road Junction to Hudson Circle and from Ramamurthynagar to Hebbal Flyover on the Outer Ring Road. Signals on M.G. Road from Queen's Statue to Trinity Circle would be synchronised shortly, Mr. Saleem said. While the J.C. Road synchronisation was funded by Canara Bank, the M.G. Road synchronisation would be funded by Vijaya Bank.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail