Traffic dept dream projects yet to start

Two ambitious modern technology-based projects of the Delhi Police — Intelligent Traffic System or ITS and e-challan — which were scheduled to be operational by this year, are still gathering dust in files. Subhendu Ray reports.

Two ambitious modern technology-based projects of the Delhi Police — Intelligent Traffic System or ITS and e-challan — which were scheduled to be operational by this year, are still gathering dust in files.

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Police commissioner BK Gupta, who after taking charge as the Delhi Police chief had committed to introduce both the projects by this year, is now not sure when they will be in place in reality.

According to sources, of the two — ITS — is kept in cold storage by the police chief, while the e-challan project is also far from reality. Gupta, however, said, “The ITS file is lying with the ministry of home affairs. We can comment on its fate only after the ministry moves it.” He added, “E-challaning is another important project and we will definitely introduce it.” He, however, could not give any fresh deadline for this. The Rs 300-crore project of having the intelligent traffic system in 275 areas of the city was first planned in 2008 during the tenure of the then police chief YS Dadwal, so that IT-driven solutions could be provided in managing traffic during the Commonwealth Games 2010.

So far, the police have issued tenders twice in 2009 and 2010, but apparently failed to take the project further.

Though senior traffic police officers have always remained tight-lipped on the fate of ITS, there was some movement on the e-challan project recently. The traffic police had invited expression of interest for acquiring the system for carrying out prosecutions and storage of data electronically for use in the Delhi police.

The tenders for e-challaning devices have also failed twice during the past two years. This project was also taken up by the police two years ago. At least nine players had shown interest and they were allocated circle-wise for pilot project of e-challaning.

The pilot project went on well and many players had shown efficiency. But the project ironically lost momentum immediately after this.

Tendering process for the project is yet to start.

It has been learnt that the project is yet to get a go ahead from the department of general administration of the Delhi Police.