Patna, Nov. 25: Sweating for hours caught in traffic jams could be a thing of past for commuters from next week. The city traffic police would air updates on the situation of roads to help travellers tide over the rush hour chaos. The only thing you need to bypass the bumper-to-bumper traffic is an FM radio.

Starting next week, jockeys of a private FM channel will not only soothe your mood with peppy songs but will also offer road advice, courtesy the traffic police. The service, which is already in place in the metropolitan cities, would reach the state capital too. FM has become an integral part of everybody’s daily lives. Cellphones, cars, autorickshaws — all come equipped with this entertainment component. For optimum usage, the portable device will now update commuters about traffic and offer alternative routes.

City superintendent of police (west) Upendra Sharma, also the traffic superintendent of police (SP), told The Telegraph today: “The police hope the move will be helpful for the commuters. We have entered into a pact with a private FM channel for the purpose. The service is expected to start from next week.”

For now, the radio jockeys (RJs) will give traffic updates at rush hours — 9am to 11am, 12noon to 3pm and 5pm to 7.30pm. Alternative routes that commuters can take to avoid snarls will also be aired, said Sharma. The traffic updates will become more frequent with time, the SP said.

“The traffic deputy superintendents of police and the 30 sector in-charges in the state capital will be given the contact details of the radio station employees so that they can inform the representatives about traffic jams on the city roads. The RJs will then pass on the information to the commuters,” the officer added.

The radio station representatives can also contact the officers for snarl-related information. “The updates will be announced three times a day, when traffic is at its peak. Commuters can take the suggested routes aired on the channel to avoid jams,” he said.

Gardanibagh resident Javed Khan said: “This is a good move by the police. A majority of us are now hooked on to FM channels and such traffic updates and suggestions of alternatives routes will be helpful.”