CDA to introduce centralised traffic signal system

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is mulling to introduce centralised traffic signal system in order to ensure the smooth traffic flow in the federal capital with electronic sensors, a CDA official said on Monday.
The official said the Authority is working on the plan to introduce centrally-controlled traffic signals while a consultant has also submitted a proposal with the Authority in this regard.
He said the Authority will install traffic signals with a proper battery back-up, which would work even during the load shedding. "At present, the traffic signals are non-functional during the load shedding and this would be a thing of past. There are 72 traffic signals across the city and most of them had been installed in 1970s which may even cause tragic accident in case of any disorder," the official said.
He said that the project would be executed in the phased manner. In first phase, the Authority would upgrade the existing traffic signals across the city; in the second phase, it would work on the computerisation of these signals. The third phase includes the installation of sensors on signals, which would automate the traffic signals.
"Electronic sensors and cameras will be installed to capture traffic volume data and transfer it instantly to the traffic control centre," he said. The official said that the PC-1 of the two billion rupee-project has been forwarded to the interior ministry for approval and it would take another two-year for the completion.
More or less, 3,000 security cameras will also be installed on VIP routes, highways and markets, which would be controlled by the same centre. The centre would save the data of a week-long footage of the traffic and other movements in the city, he said.
The Authority would execute the project in coordination with the Islamabad Traffic Police, which along with the police and law enforcement agencies will control the center.
"The centrally controlled centre will have all the information to pass the messages in time and also alert the police on time, giving traffic details of the location so that they can respond in the shortest possible time," the official added.
The official said that every signal will have a timer. The official said that the Authority would purchase the latest engineering equipment from Germany, Japan, United States and UK to be used in the project.