City traffic limps amid habitual offenders, outdated machines

What is likely to be the fate of the driver involved in the VIP Road accident?
A: Since the case is already in court, it wouldn't be correct on my part to comment. However, as far as I've seen, in most such cases, a driver has been only fined and not jailed.

Why are drivers taking the law for granted and breaking it with impunity?
A: It is difficult to say why they're not following the traffic rules because it's not that enforcement is lacking. For instance, in the month of March alone, we collected a fine of Rs 1.09 crore for traffic violations. This is the physical collection in terms of revenue received. The total amount of fines imposed is much larger, as part of it is yet to be collected. Besides, we are doing average 60-70,000 prosecutions per month.

Why is it difficult to rein in these traffic rules violators?
A: Well, habitual offenders cannot be stopped. There have been instances where we've pulled up a violator and fined him, but he is found committing the same mistake a couple of weeks later. One thing must be considered that the value of money has changed greatly since the fines were fixed. Today, for a person driving a Rs 5 lakh car and probably spending up to Rs 500 per day on fuel, a Rs 100 fine for breaking a traffic rule means nothing. We need to change the rules for two-wheelers also, as the fine amount is small compared to what they spend on their bikes.

How can this be remedied?
A: It is time to review the structure of penalties for traffic offences and it's necessary to bring in more stringent regulations in the form of larger fines and jail terms. We had put forward a proposal for it before the state government around one-and-a-half years ago, but are yet to receive a response.
Licences of traffic offenders are regularly impounded. The DCP (Traffic) has the power to suspend or revoke licenses. Every week I have hearings in my office, mostly in cases involving fatalities.

Tell us about the various modern measures to streamline the city traffic?
A: As part of the first phase of developing the necessary infrastructure, we have recently given the tenders to a company called Caltron for auto traffic control systems, including the Red Light Vehicle Detectors. These detect vehicles that jump red lights or break traffic rules and hence will help in enforcing the law. As each RLVD costs Rs 90 lakh, to begin with we are planning to install only two, one each at Dorina and Esplanade crossing.
We have also invited tenders from other firms who provide the same technology at a cheaper rate. They have already submitted us their presentations, let's see how it works out. Cost is a major factor, of course.
We are also going in for Variable Messaging Systems. The VMS would be connected to CCTV cameras in specific loops, and would be collecting data on vehicle density at the point of installation. When the traffic becomes too heavy, the VMS would automatically divert traffic towards thoroughfares with less traffic. The VMS would be connected with the Traffic Control Room and senior officers.
We have plans to install CCTV cameras at various important crossings. We have already installed these at 12 such places. Additionally, we will be installing another 105 CCTV cameras. In the next phase, more such cameras will be put up.