Maruti Suzuki India has partnered with the Delhi Police department for implementation of a Traffic Safety Management System (TSMS) in the national capital.
As per a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between Delhi Police and Maruti, the TSMS will be set up along the Ring Road corridor from Dhaula Kuan to Sarai Kale Khan, a stretch of about 14km. Maruti Suzuki will invest Rs 15 crore towards setting up of the TSMS.
The MoA was signed in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, and Shipping and Water Resources and Anil Baijal, Lt Governor of Delhi. YS Malik, secretary (Road Transport & Highways), Amulya Patnaik, commissioner, Delhi Police and K Ayukawa, MD and CEO, Maruti Suzuki, were among the dignitaries present.
According to Maruti Suzuki, the TSMS project is the first of its kind in the capital, which is in line with the Central Government’s focus to make roads safe and bring down accidents and fatalities.
The TSMS features advanced cameras including Red Light Violation Detection System (RLVDS), Speed Violation Detection System (SVDS) and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. These camera systems will make it possible to simultaneously capture red-light violations as well as speed violations.
Once the violation is detected, the cameras will record the vehicle registration number and send the information to the data server and the police control room. Once the data is generated, the violator will be issued an e-challan (fine).
According to Maruti Suzuki, this initiative will support the Delhi Police in promoting road safety by strengthening and bringing transparency in the enforcement of traffic regulations and create a culture of compliance.
Commenting on the MoA, Kenichi Ayukawa, MD and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said: “The number of deaths and injuries in road accidents in India is alarming, and clearly unacceptable. We welcome the government’s bold move to introduce advanced safety regulations for automobiles. Our effort has been to make our vehicles compliant ahead of schedule to protect occupants and pedestrians. Maruti Suzuki has been working for road safety for nearly two decades. We manage nearly 430 driving schools with our dealers across India. We have partnered state governments to manage six IDTRs, including two in Delhi. Together, these facilities impart quality training to 1,50,000 new drivers annually.”
“If we can use technology to strengthen the enforcement of road regulations, it would likely improve road behaviour. A transparent and objective system would, over time, encourage compliance, and bring down road accidents. Delhi Police, which has been thinking far ahead of us in the area of Intelligent Traffic Management, has already given us much guidance on the technology and its execution,” said Ayukawa.
“Countries across the world have successfully brought down road fatalities and deaths. In all cases, an integrated approach has delivered results,” concluded Ayukawa.
As per the MoA, Maruti Suzuki, which will set up the TSMS, will also maintain it for two years, and the commencement and operation of the system will be under the charge of Delhi Police. According to government statistics, around 1,495 people lost their lives to road accidents in Delhi last year – that is among the highest in the country. With an automatic and objective system in place, it is expected to instil discipline among road users.
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 area.
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