Traffic Cops and SMS

By Maxwell Pereira

Police Commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma inaugurated on May 13 the SMS (Short Messaging Service) of the Delhi Traffic Police. The aim behind the service is to provide aid and assistance in answer to queries from not only the average motorist of Delhi, but also to media persons and more importantly to traffic cops themselves, while operating in the field.
The service is accessible to any mobile phone user in the city. Commuters with cellphones can now get traffic related information by simply pressing a few keys on their mobiles. Information on traffic blockages, diversions, other ‘helpline’ services like pending ‘notices’ and area traffic offices. A database of 450 colonies is available for those who want more localised help. This provides instant information to a motorist about the local officer in charge, the address of the local traffic office etc – all on the basis of the area or colony name; a boon also for those whose vehicles are towed away… as is often alleged, to ‘unknown’ destinations.
A megapolis like Delhi has experienced in the recent past the impact of various technological advancements – not the least of them being in the area of communications telephony. Among them, the mobile phones – earlier considered as only a rich man’s luxury, have now become the favourite of all classes of people. This, especially after the steep fall in the rates for mobile-phone calls. Reportedly Delhi has over ten lakh mobile phone users presently, for whom the use of SMS has also become popular.
Consequently, and keeping in view the flexibility and versatility of SMS applications, the Delhi Traffic Police explored the possibility of adapting the various applications available on the Short Messaging Service through mobile telephony to reach out to the people – in matters concerning day-to-day traffic management. In the process, a wireless-application software ‘Solagem Manager’ provided by JKiNet – a division of JK Technosoft was customised at the Traffic Computer Centre with the help and collaboration of ESSAR Cellphones – for use of the traffic police, the media persons, and of the general public.
Among the various facilities now available are – motorists and vehicle owners with pending traffic violation notices can access the service on the basis of their vehicle registration number. Details of one or more challans pending if any can be accessed along with details like date and time and place of violation, the offence and the compounding fee payable, to sort it out at the Traffic Compounding Centres. More handy information is available to field traffic officers who can now not only get the vehicle ownership details instantly, but also run a background check on regular offenders and apply available provisions for enhanced punishment – eventually, further leading to likely suspension and cancellation of driving licences.
For those from the media – especially the investigative journalists seeking quick information on accidents and prosecution data etc, the facility is available as an authenticated service. They could avail the offer by getting their personal cellphones authenticated by the Traffic SMS Centre.
The Traffic SMS facility is available on number 9811452220 accessible to as many as 150 at any given point in time. This however is not toll-free. And the Traffic police caution you categorically against using mobile phones while driving. That would lead to prosecution and a hefty fine.
To get ‘Traffic Situation Information’…. on accessing the number, one needs to send SMS as ‘T’ for instant knowledge on traffic blockages, diversions or other problems at any particular time of day. This information is updated at the SMS Centre several times a day.
For Helpline services one needs to format ‘H’… and give the location from where the service is accessed. Instantly, the name of the local traffic officer with the location and address of he traffic office will appear as response output.
For information on Notices, one is required to SMS ‘N’ followed by the vehicle registration number. For media services, it is ‘M’ available only to authenticated mobile numbers of journalists for cryptic traffic info on the day’s traffic priorities, press releases if any, accident and prosecution information etc. This service is expected to be further fine tuned as needs and possibilities emerge during actual availing of the service over a period of time.
Other authenticated services available only to police officers include the “Prosecution Information Service” accessible through the alphabet ‘P’… and the Accident Information Service” through the alphabet ‘A’ followed by the Traffic Circle code. For vehicle ownership data the access format is ‘W’ followed by the vehicle registration number… and similarly for driver license related data it is at the prompt of the alphabet ‘D’ followed by the DL number. These services are meant only for police officers.
There are further facilities of a ‘Broadcast Service’ and a ‘Information Insertion Service’. Through these it is possible to broadcast SMS messages to police personnel whose mobiles are authenticated in the police database. At any given time any number of those authenticated can be sent messages. In the Information Insertion Service, facility is available to the Administrator of the SMS Service to insert records into databases for Helpline, Traffic Info Services -, etc. This further facilitates regular updating of Traffic situation and other related data coming in from the field – be it from traffic patrols, Zonal Officers and traffic Inspectors, or from routine distress calls recorded in the traffic control or at 3378888 – the traffic helpline number, by the commuter public. Things like signal-light failure, power shut-downs, congestion or traffic-jams and so on.
This latest innovation on the part of the Delhi Traffic Police – who are the first in the country to adopt this futuristic and technologically savvy programme, is yet another step to tackle the city’s growing traffic problems by use of on-going advancements in technology – expected to benefit road users, press persons and traffic cops alike and provide especially the Delhi commuters some measure of relief.
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May 14, 2002: Maxwell Pereira, 60 Ashoka Road, ND-1: 3718822, 3731765: email maxpk@vsnl.com
(published in the Delhi Mid-Day on Wednesday the May 15, 2002)