Delhi’s police will soon get Maruti’s eyes to nail traffic offenders

Car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) on Tuesday joined hands with the Delhi Police to implement a Traffic Safety Management System (TSMS) in the national capital.

A memorandum of agreement (MoA) was signed between Delhi Police and MSIL in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, and Shipping and Water Resources, and Anil Baijal, Lt Governor of Delhi.

MSIL will spend around ₹15 crore on this project. The project is likely to be operational in the next one year. In addition, Maruti Suzuki and Delhi Police also plan to engage with academic institutions and social groups to spread awareness on traffic enforcement systems and safe driving practices in the national capital.

Last year around 1,495 people lost their lives to road accidents in Delhi, among the highest in the country. With an automatic and objective system in place, it is expected to instill discipline among road users.

Some of the objectives of the programme are to reduce accidents and fatalities, improve compliance of traffic rules, strengthen and bring transparency in enforcement by eChallan system, awareness on commuter safety and surveillance of traffic movement.

The TSMS will be set up along the Ring Road corridor from Dhaula Kuan to Sarai Kale Khan a stretch of around 14-km in Delhi.

The TSMS project, the first of its kind in the Capital, is in line with the Union Government’s focus to make roads safe and bring down accidents and fatalities.

The TSMS will feature advanced cameras including Red Light Violation Detection System (RLVDS), Speed Violation Detection System (SVDS) and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. With these advanced camera systems it will be possible to simultaneously capture red-light violation as well as speed violation by a vehicle.

“With this initiative, Maruti Suzuki will support efforts of Delhi Police to promote road safety by strengthening and bringing transparency in enforcement of traffic regulations and create a culture of compliance,” the company said.

Maruti Suzuki will set up the Traffic Safety Management System and maintain it for two years. The commencement and operation of the TSMS will be under the charge of Delhi Police, it said.

"There is an urgent requirement of better technology systems because of the alarming situations on the road. A successful adoption of better technology in Delhi may be an example to many more cities in future," Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, MSIL, said here at the event.

Y S Malik, Secretary (Road Transport & Highways), MORTH and Amulya Patnaik, Commissioner of Delhi Police were among the dignitaries present.