Bhubaneswar: After equipping several city junctions with automatic traffic signal systems, the smart city project has turned its focus on installing pelican system at several places here to help pedestrians cross roads with ease.

Once pelican signals are installed, pedestrians will be able to stop traffic flow at the press of a button. Once a button is pressed, the signal changes to red for vehicles and green for pedestrians to cross the road without any hassle.

Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL), the special purpose vehicle executing the project, had started installing the new traffic signals in June last year. The BSCL had decided to install 14 pelican signals on selected busy roads. Presently, three such pelican systems are undergoing a trial run, while others are being installed.

"We have chosen the roads based on the demand of pedestrians. The system has already been commissioned for trial run near Regional Passport Office, Rama Devi Women's University and near Reserve Bank of India on the Sachivalaya Marg. The process to install similar facilities has been fast-tracked at other places and will become functional in the next two months," said a BSCL official.

The places where the pelican system will be installed are near BJB College, near Ice Factory Road, near VITS, near Ashok Nagar Bus Stop, south of Master Canteen, north of Master Canteen, near RBI, near RDW University, near Keshari Bus Stop, near Press Club Road, near East Coast Railway Office, near KIIT School, near Satabdi Bus Stop and near the Regional Passport Office.

However, people and officials are worried that the new system can be misused as movement of vehicles can be stopped just by the press of a button.

"There has to be a proper mechanism to control the system. Chances are high that the pelican system will be misutilised by many people," said Patia resident Suryakanta Jena.

Moreover, the authorities haven't yet marked where the vehicles should stop and which way the pedestrians should move to cross the road.

"We have just started installing the new system. Vehicle stop marks will be painted on the roads. We will also paint zebra lines for pedestrians," said the official.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said the pelican system was there in very few Indian cities.

"We are the first in the state to introduce the pelican system. It is a modern system, which will prove beneficial for the pedestrians. We hope people will benefit immensely and avoid using the system unnecessarily," said Jena.