Chennai Traffic Management

[krishnaswamy]

de

[ranga]

Originally Posted by arshyam

I have heard many times that many autos are owned by the police men themselves. If true, that is a sure conflict of interest, and may explain the sorry state of affairs.

Another thing I have noticed is this: auto drivers don't want to take short trips, they prefer to wait in their stands for the few big ones per day. Hence, the exorbitant demands for short trips. I don't understand this, as it is possible to make more money by doing multiple short trips than a single long trip. The only difference is that one has to continuously work all day.

This seems to work well in other cities. Mumbai is a good case in point: autos queue up outside stations, take passengers to their destinations, and return to take the next 'savari'. They are in constant movement, and don't hesitate to take short trips, even for Rs. 18 or 24, or whatever. I don't know how much police enforcement influences this behaviour, but I have never had any problems or apprehensions with autos in Mumbai (which is an unfamiliar city to me compared to Madras). OTOH, in Madras, I always try to take the bus, just to avoid the unpleasantness of bargaining with the autokkaran...

Finally, it may sound radical, but auto-stands should be abolished . I have my reasons for this statement:

1. They enchroach on the road space at street corners.
2. Encourage laziness, and disinclination to take fares.
3. Have some cinema star affiliation (without the good intentions espoused by the star on screen). Not a bad thing in itself, but it adds to the ambience of an auto stand by having some posters, cut-outs, etc., making the place appear shabby. I don't recall seeing this phenomenon anywhere else, say Delhi, Hyderabad or Bombay.
4. Don't allow honest auto drivers to make a good days' living.
   There have been umpteen instances when auto drivers will gang up in a stand when I bargained for a lower fare, and also discourage passing autos from taking a 'savari' at a more reasonable price.

I am not anti-auto, on the contrary, I think they offer a low-cost alternative to taxis, and are useful when bus services are spotty. I am all for increasing the fares to a reasonable limit, somewhat like Prabhu007's suggestion above.

However, it is time for us public to impose some conditions, like a quid pro quo: public will allow increase in fares, provided autos agree to adhere to some code of conduct: such as not turning down a fare, using only the meter, displaying the driver's license, auto reg. number and fare chart in the passenger seat, and being generally polite.

Auto drivers can also define their hours of work, which they can display on their autos, and they don't have to take fares outside of that, i.e., when returning home, etc. This would allow the drivers to have some say over their daily routines as well. The flip side is that, they cannot turn down fares during the working hours.

Chennai already has poor PR (sad, but true), and autos are a big contributor towards it. It is time to call a spade a spade and tackle this head on.

The autokarans in chennai without exception don't turn on the meter and this has been happening for decades and the traffic police never question them even when complaints are lodged by the customers.In that case why the concerned authorities of the state govt made it mandatory to fix the meter..Funny
In the ninties autorickshawkarans were complaing about theft of meters and the police penalised them for running autos without meters fixed to the autos.More than 100 meters were stolen.After few months it was found that a gang from A.P was indulging in the thefts posing as customers and stealthly removing the meters when the auto was in motion.They took advantage as they observed that autokarans in chennai have no habit of looking at the meters as they don't use them.Another case that had happened in the late ninties was counterfiet notes tendered by some African students gang to the autokarans to satiate their greed of demanding exhorbitant fares.As a banker i caught hold of one such case of autorickshaw fellow wanting to exchange for lower denomination in my bank branch.After that reports of such cases came from other bank branches and the autokarans had a hell of a time with the crime branch police pleading and explaining their innocence.For few months thereafter autos in chennai stopped demanding fares as they liked.Such shock treatment must be given to these fellows again.

[prabhu007]

Sir, trust me, the past never holds good forever. I feel at least the Min 30, 15 per km plan would bring in the change that we expect. Just that public would oppose it saying it is too exorbitant. If that's the change which is agreed upon by both parties then that is what has to happen at the least. To me something is better than nothing. We cant change these guys overnight. Any change which is city-wide, especially which involves govt, various unions and public will not happen overnight. So let's see to it that what TOI did just recently somehow huffs and puffs to that goal. Everyone reading this post please goto the TOI FB page and vote your views. Please..

[darkprinz]

Originally Posted by ranga

The autokarans in chennai without exception don't turn on the meter and this has been happening for decades and the traffic police never question them even when complaints are lodged by the customers.In that case why the concerned authorities of the state govt made it mandatory to fix the meter..Funny
In the ninties autorickshawkarans were complaing about theft of meters and the police penalised them for running autos without meters fixed to the autos.More than 100 meters were stolen.After few months it was found that a gang from A.P was indulging in the thefts posing as customers and stealthly removing the meters when the auto was in motion.They took advantage as they observed that autokarans in chennai have no habit of looking at the meters as they don't use them.Another case that had happened in the late ninties was counterfiet notes tendered by some African students gang to the autokarans to satiate their greed of demanding exhorbitant fares.As a banker i caught hold of one such case of autorickshaw fellow wanting to exchange for lower denomination in my bank branch.After that reports of such cases came from other bank branches and the autokarans had a hell of a time with the crime branch police pleading and explaining their innocence.For few months thereafter autos in chennai stopped demanding fares as they liked.Such shock treatment must be given to these fellows again.

From what am experiencing this Meter Phobia is spreading to autowallahs in Bangalore and hyderabad also... Meter poda sonna Chennai le thituvangha ... Bangalore le moraikaranga... Hyderabad le venam nu kenjaranga... mothathle namma panam govinda

[krishnaswamy]

Autorickshaw hassle drives Chennai cab business
With the northeast monsoon bringing almost incessant rain to the city, the situation is now worse than ever before . Drivers demand 50 for a ride of less than 1km . The hassles of travelling by autorickshaw have resulted in people opting to commute by cabs and taxi operators are doing roaring business .
..
I was asked for 350 for a trip from T Nagar to Koyambedu," said Rathnavel a college student. "Why would I pay so much when I can travel in the comfort of a cab for less?"

[vinodgopal]

mutta pasanga autokaaranga. they will perish without business if they are charging this high. they probably want to compensate for the hike in tasmac liquor rates than their fuel price hike

[ranga]

Originally Posted by vinodgopal

mutta pasanga autokaaranga. they will perish without business if they are charging this high. they probably want to compensate for the hike in tasmac liquor rates than their fuel price hike

Muttal pasanga daan pozhaikatheryada somberigal.They will perish by pricing out of the market.I had many conversations with these fellows out of curiosity but rather amused by their logic.It is a fit case study for business management students.It is a apt case of shooting ones own foot for nothing.
but I heard some news in chennai that the govt wants to run autorickshaws like the cable TV and TASMAC as the ongoing tariff hike negotiaton between the auto unions and the SG is going nowhere.Can anybody confirm this.

[Nirmal S.]

Onus on Corporation to widen Paper Mills Road: High Court


It is for the Chennai Corporation to take necessary steps to widen the Paper Mills Road at Perambur here, the Madras High Court said on Wednesday. As regards removal of encroachments on the road, the court directed the civic body to take appropriate action with the help of the police.

The First Bench comprising the Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, was disposing of a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to the Chennai Corporation and other authorities to widen the road from the Perambur Church to Retteri junction to cope with the increasing population and traffic.

The petitioner, L.T. William Moses of TVK Nagar said the area in and around Perambur had become a residential hub. Besides Perambur, the other railway stations such as Loco Works and Villivakkam were located nearby. There was a spurt in population on either side of the road. He sent representations to the authorities to clear the encroachments and widen the road. Since his request was not considered, he moved the court.

The Government Pleader submitted that the road was maintained by Chennai Corporation and therefore it was the civic body’s duty to remove encroachments for widening the road.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle4075057.ece

[sethumurugan]

Originally Posted by Nirmal S.

Onus on Corporation to widen Paper Mills Road: High Court


It is for the Chennai Corporation to take necessary steps to widen the Paper Mills Road at Perambur here, the Madras High Court said on Wednesday. As regards removal of encroachments on the road, the court directed the civic body to take appropriate action with the help of the police.

The First Bench comprising the Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, was disposing of a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to the Chennai Corporation and other authorities to widen the road from the Perambur Church to Retteri junction to cope with the increasing population and traffic.

The petitioner, L.T. William Moses of TVK Nagar said the area in and around Perambur had become a residential hub. Besides Perambur, the other railway stations such as Loco Works and Villivakkam were located nearby. There was a spurt in population on either side of the road. He sent representations to the authorities to clear the encroachments and widen the road. Since his request was not considered, he moved the court.

The Government Pleader submitted that the road was maintained by Chennai Corporation and therefore it was the civic body’s duty to remove encroachments for widening the road.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle4075057.ece

What about other roads like Arcot raod [which is one of the longest stretch in chennai] Kaliamman koil road. These road needs to be widened at any cost immediately.

[srikanthlogic]

I hear that shops in perungalathur have been served eviction notice. Let's see how long it takes for a new bus stand and how big it is to cater the demand

[murlee]

VVIP route to be automated first

Work on the much-awaited integrated traffic management system for the city has begun. “The work has started on 12 junctions from Anna flyover to the War Memorial.

We decided to take the particular route as it is frequently used by the present CM and former CM. The enti*re work for 100 junctions will be over by January 2013,” a Traffic Police official disclosed.

The new system is expe*cted to help the police monitor traffic violations better besides creating an automatic intelligent traffic control system whereby VVIP convoys and ambulances can get priority on the city roads.

The system, that include high powered surveillan*ce cameras, number plate readers and Wi-Fi at junctions, will be first insta*lled on the 12-km stre*tch on Cathedral Road, RK Salai to War Memorial on Kamarajar Salai.

Purple Infotech Limited from Chennai had signed an agreement with the government in July this year to install the ITMS.

The Traffic Police meanwhile expect the collection of fines for traffic violations to go up from Rs. 12 crore to at least Rs. 60 crore a year with the help of the new system, which is being set up at a cost of Rs. 117 crore.

The ITMS control room is set up on the seventh floor of the yet-to-be-inaugurated police commissioner’s office in Vepery. The project was initially estimated to cost Rs. 150 cr*ore before being awarded for Rs. 117 crore.

“Once the number plate details are captured and the image is sent to the control room, the e-challan will be generated and sent to the violator’s addr*ess. The violators can eit*her pay the fine online or at the nearest traffic pol*ice station,” police said.

“The system can show the heavy traffic flow on a particular side so that those sitting in the control room can adjust the traffic signals accordingly,” a traffic police official said.

“Traffic policemen will get on the road to stop other traffic violations with hand-held devices. These devices will capture images of vehicles parked in non-parking areas and send them to the control room based on which e-challans can be generated,” the official noted.

http://www.asianage.com/chennai/vvip...ated-first-329

[vinodgopal]

i was going through the state highway upto Shollingur the other day and it had less traffic - far lesser than most other highways around the metro. And the road was also not so perfect - just around 40's 50's can be achieved due to bumps and cracks in road.

So it is almost a rule here that if the road is horrible we get to see less traffic and when the roads are good the congestion will keep us below 50 kmph. What is the use of having a fast car in these parts of the world huh?

[ceeznic pirate]

Originally Posted by vinodgopal

What is the use of having a fast car in these parts of the world huh?

CM sir enna car vachirukinga? porshe/audi/jaguar?

[vinodgopal]

Originally Posted by ceeznic pirate

CM sir enna car vachirukinga? porshe/audi/jaguar?

ada ponga sir. summa oru maruthi than. adhukku than naa scene potten


but speed a poga mudiala paa. cha. When i got wings to fly finally, the world's longest stretch of speed breakers recorded in the Guinness book of world record slows me down.

[darkprinz]

Originally Posted by murlee

VVIP route to be automated first




http://www.asianage.com/chennai/vvip...ated-first-329

It will be AXIS IP cameras

[krishnaswamy]

Traffic violations on the rise

[ezhilan81]

Originally Posted by darkprinz

It will be AXIS IP cameras

PTZ cameras?

[darkprinz]

Originally Posted by ezhilan81

PTZ cameras?

Ya it will be one PTZ cam along with number plate cam and a Public address system for the junction ... From the control room they can announce at that particular jn.

[vinodgopal]

they should have a system of a prepaid fine and road tax card like in some of the western countries. As soon as a car passes a certain zone, one must deduct some mullah from that card or if a car crosses signal wrongly they must be charged a penalty. Every month there should be a minimum of atleast Rs. 500 or so and if cars go through toll gates or so it would be deducted and later on topped up.

[ezhilan81]

Originally Posted by darkprinz

Ya it will be one PTZ cam along with number plate cam and a Public address system for the junction ... From the control room they can announce at that particular jn.

Are you associated with this project? If yes I would like to talk to you on official grounds. Thanks