Traffic police in the capital are resorting to a number of measures to inculcate a sense of discipline among drivers, using CCTV cameras to identify offenders and then using a public address system to issue a warning.

PA systems have been installed at 16 locations in Ranchi. Policemen would first call the number of an offending vehicle. If a driver takes remedial measures immediately, he/she would be spared. If not, the driver would be fined.

The system is expected to begin from January 1.

“We are looking at stop-line violations and illegal parking. But we want to give a second chance to those who may have unwittingly jumped a traffic signal or crossed a stop-line. He/she may have inadvertently parked a vehicle in a prohibited place. We want to provide an opportunity to these people to rectify their mistake by warning them through the PA system,” said Ranchi traffic SP Ajit Peter Dungdung.

However, if they failed to rectify their mistakes, they would fined, the SP added.

Sources explained that designated officers would be monitoring the CCTV footage from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at the police control room. If and when a bike or a four-wheeler is seen to be violating traffic norms, like crossing over a designated stop-line before a pedestrian crossing to trying to park a vehicle in a no-parking zone, the operator at the control room would announce the number of the offending vehicle followed by the nature of traffic violation.

The driver would be warned of prosecution if he/she did not take corrective steps immediately.

“If the operator at the control room sees that offender is not paying heed to the warning, necessary instructions would be issued to the traffic policeman to initiate prosecution in the form of a fine. In case of a parking violation, the vehicle may be towed away. And if the offender tries to flee, a challan would be sent to his address,” Dungdung said, adding that since trials so far were successful, the system would start from January 1, 2019.

ANPR cameras have been installed at 16 locations and successfully tried out since December 10 under the state’s police modernisation plans. Once these cameras have detected a registration number, a technician at the control room would scan it after which the system would automatically generate a challan for payment of a fine.

ANPR cameras have been installed at Birsa Chowk, Ram Mandir Chowk (Kanke Road), Sujata Chowk, Jail Chowk, Argora Chowk, Chandni Chowk (Kanke Road), Sarjana Chowk, Karamtoli Chowk, Shahjanand Chowk, Hinoo Chowk, Kutchery Chowk, Booty More Chowk, Ratu Road Chowk, AG More Chowk, Siromtoli Chowk and Lalpur Chowk.

Ranchi police also plan to play traffic safety messages on the PA system.

The mangled car after it met with an accident at Ormanjhi in Ranchi on Saturday. Telegraph picture

1 dead in road mishap

One person died and four others were injured when their car rammed into a speeding truck at Ukrid village near Ormanjhi, 30km from the district headquarters, on Saturday.

While Santosh Kumar Munda (25), a resident of Palu village in Ormanjhi, died on the spot, Ashok Nagvanshi Munda, who was returning from Chutupalu after contesting the local panchayat election, received multiple injuries. Police are yet to establish the identity of three other injured persons who have been admitted to RIMS.

Ormanjhi thana OC Rajdeo Prasad said both the vehicles were trying to overtake each other.

“According to eyewitnesses, rash driving was the reason behind the accident. The driver of the car lost balance while trying to overtake the speeding truck, rammed into the heavy vehicle and fell on its side. We are yet to identify the truck driver,” said Prasad.

In another incident, four persons suffered injuries when a bike had a head-on collision with an auto at Tau More locality in Bundu, 45km from the district headquarters, on Saturday morning. The injured have been admitted to RIMS.