CHENNAI: Uniform traffic signage, conceptualised by the city corporation for bus route roads, will be made of retro-reflective sheets with a white background and blue border. As part of the exercise, about 10,000 signboards costing Rs six crore will be installed soon. They will replace old rust-stained boards that are seen at various points alongside footpaths on either side of the road today. The local body recently issued work orders to contractors in all ten zones.

The massive project is the result of a survey along 304 km of bus route roads, on road safety traffic signs as well as other signs carrying important information for the public, conducted by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre, an institution that is part of the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment. To enhance the safety of road users and to streamline traffic movement, the consultant has recommended the use of uniform and well-designed boards.

On the signage, mandatory signs such as speed limit’, no parking’ and no entry’ will be circular in shape against a white background. Letters and logos will appear in black, with the borders in red and these will be affixed on aluminium sheets more than two mm thick; warning signs will be shown in an equilateral triangle. Signs containing information such as proximity to the bus stop, airport, petrol bunk, pedestrian subway, hospital and auto stand, be displayed in a rectangular shape, with a blue background and symbols in black on a white square.

“The agency divided the bus route roads into six packages of 50 km each and conducted extensive research, preparing a line sketch of all surveyed roads, identifying the type of signages to be installed, determining the information to be provided on each signage and the exact location where they are to be installed,” says a senior official.

The type of signage and road markings proposed by the bus route road department are based on the codes and standards stipulated by the Indian Road Congress (IRC). The guidelines for location, design and installation of overhead signs were specified by the Union ministry of surface transport. “At present, most of the signboards put up by private individuals do not adhere to IRC standards. It is only to advertise their products. No outsider will be allowed to continue this illegal practice hereafter,” corporation commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni told TOI.