Traffic cops get 'social', post real-time info on FB

Traditionalists might cast a suspicious look at the meteoric rise of social media, but social networking sites making inroads into public administration is actually helping bridge the divide between the administration and the public. Siddhartha Rai reports.

Traditionalists might cast a suspicious look at the meteoric rise of social media, but social networking sites making inroads into public administration is actually helping bridge the divide between the administration and the public.

HT Image

Going with this trend, the city traffic police have now started displaying real-time information about traffic congestions and clogged roads on its official Facebook page.

"We have been uploading traffic-related information on our Facebook page since last week so that people can chalk out their routes in such a manner as to avoid running into traffic snarls. Also, this saves their time," said DCP (traffic) Bharti Arora.

So, how does the system work? The ACP (headquarters) takes all the traffic-related information from the zonal officers and traffic inspectors through a real-time relaying system. This information is then uploaded on the Facebook page of Gurgaon traffic police and can be accessed by anyone who visits the page.

The department is quite upbeat about the success of this novel step.

"This is a positive change on the part of the police and people are actually using this service to plan their routes. It comes in handy for all those who can take an alternative route to their destinations," said Arvind Singla, a road safety officer for the past two years and a resident of Sector 57.

Drive against autosContinuing with their ongoing initiative to rein in errant auto drivers, the traffic police have decided to launch a fortnight-long drive to sensitise them. The whip will also be cracked on motorists who jump traffic signals.

"We will start a 15-day-long drive against jumping of signal and traffic violations by auto drivers. We get a lot of complaints from the public of drivers being drunk, overloaded vehicles, etc. As far as jumping red lights is concerned, it is a dangerous practice and needs to be checked," said DCP (traffic) Bharti Arora.