Presiding over a meeting to discuss improvement in the traffic management in Karachi, the other day, Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui gave the happy tidings of introduction of Rs 700 million traffic control system and computerisation of all traffic signals, describing the effort as a combination of two positive steps towards disciplining traffic and providing relief to the pedestrians.
In so far as the need of a disciplined traffic in the sprawling megalopolis is concerned, there can be no disputing his assertion that it will help avert the every day accidents, some of them quite major, thereby creating the long evasive sense of security among the citizens, on the one hand and helping economise on fuel consumption, on the other.
Similarly, putting in place better transportation services should prove instrumental in providing quite some relief to variously harried commuters by cutting short travel time in covering long distances between homes and work places.
As for the details of the scheme unfolded in the meeting, the first phase will be marked by computerisation of 153 control signals, which will be connected with each other and jointly with central computers.
This will be followed up by a similar exercise with the remaining 47 signals, thereby creating a whole network of 200 computer-based signals inclusive of the Defence Housing Authority areas.
Needless to point out, computerisation of traffic signals and linking them to a centralised system is an essential prerequisite to disciplining road traffic on modern lines.
As such, the benefits accruing from it, as pointed out in the meeting under reference, it should not only control the timings of the signals, but keep strict check on traffic jams, thereby ensuring unhampered and smooth flow of traffic, supposedly, all over the city.
More to it, the scheme by including setting the timing for opening and closing of traffic in accordance with its pressure in given areas in various parts of city will point to fulfilling the requirements of tidal traffic flows along which this modern method can best work.
One hopes that while deciding to embark on the computerised control of traffic, the authorities concerned have gone for it from a real scientific approach, leaving little to the good sense of the road users.
Of course, it can be for nothing that with all sorts of light to heavy vehicles stampeding alike on its smooth and bumpy roads have earned for it the ignominy of a traffic jungle.
In a city in which the motorists of every description bother little to respect even a zebra crossing or to cautions crying for responsible driving near schools and hospitals, computerised control, in itself, will still leave a great deal to be desired. For, to be really effective it will require a great deal more of efficient policing too.
However, one hopes that the computerised traffic control system will be handled on top priority basis both with regard to its on time completion and unhampered availability of funds.
This emphasis will appear to be all the more desirable in view of the indication of the effort taking about a year to complete, and the provincial and the City Government jointly pooling the estimated cost of about Rs 600 million to Rs 700 million, thereby pointing to an element of uncertainty, too, which needs be eliminated.
Now that a beginning seems to have been made towards addressing the long neglected traffic mess of Karachi from a multi-directional approach, it will be in the fitness of things to combine various related projects so as to make a virtually integrated whole.
This, among other schemes, has reference also to the $600 million Karachi Mass Transit Corridor-one, the foundation stone of which Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan is reportedly looking forward to be laid by the Chinese prime minister in January 2005.