The Times of India      22.12.2010

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Tuesday invited tenders from private agencies to monitor and manage its Integrated Traffic System (ITS), which has been ready for use for the last one year, even though the standing committee is yet to approve the move.

The PMC has been delaying the implementation of the ITS, developed at a
cost of Rs 15 crore, which is being touted as a system that will
improve traffic management in Pune. Although the standing committee had
rejected a proposal to appoint a private agency to monitor and manage
the system this February, PMC’s standing committee chairman Arvind
Shinde said earlier this month that the project is necessary for the
city and the standing committee would approve it soon.

Civic
officials said that besides reining in traffic offenders, the
infrastructure would be useful to integrate the traffic system, monitor
critical public areas, PMC offices, bus rapid transit system (BRTS)
routes, octroi posts, vehicle depots as well as water works.

Once the ITS is in place, challans will be delivered on a citizen’s
doorstep for a traffic violation. The proof of the offence would be
captured in the form of video clippings and pictures by various cameras
installed, and uploaded on a dedicated website as proof along with
information about the traffic violators or the vehicles involved. In
addition to the stipulated fine (compounding fees) of the traffic
police, a special charge Rs 200 for two-wheelers and Rs 500 for
four-wheelers would also be charged.

The agency, finalised and
appointed by the PMC, would deliver the challan at the traffic
violator’s address, which the traffic branch can access directly from
the computerised records of the regional transport office. One challan
would be processed in 30 seconds under the ITS. The PMC is expected to
impart initial training to the staff of the private agency to process
the challans and would specify a certain monthly target to the agency
for delivering challans and collecting fines. Civic officials said the
challan will would have to be dispatched within three days of the
traffic offence. The video clippings/ pictures of traffic violations
would be stored for a period of three months.

While there are
at least 13 types of common traffic violations like jumping red lights,
violating speed limit, stopping on the zebra crossing, violating
no-parking rules, rash driving, using mobile phones while driving,
riding triple seat, vehicles entering BRTS lanes and driving on the
wrong side the municipal commissioner would have the right to add,
delete or modify the list of violations.

Incidentally, the
basic information details such as vehicle number, type of violation,
special charges and compounding charges, previous history of traffic
violations, would be posted on the website. The PMC, the traffic police,
regional transport office and even the insurance companies would be
able to retrieve these details.

Meanwhile, traffic offenders
would have the option to pay the fine and the special charges through
cheques, credit cards and cash at the traffic offices, the PMC ward
offices, kiosks, or other arrangements made by the private agency. Civic
officials said if the fine is not paid within the first week, the
violator will get reminders from the private agency via phone calls or
SMS. Incidentally, if the special charges are not paid within a certain
period, the vehicle would be towed away after taking digital
photographs. The traffic police would initiate court proceedings against
violators who refuse to pay the fines. The PMC would reimburse a share
of special charges to the private agency.