Denizens use Facebook to air their traffic woes

HYDERABAD: Additional commissioner of police (traffic) CV Anand was busy replying to queries posted by users on the Hyderabad Traffic Police page on Facebook. “We are receiving a number of complaints on traffic snarls and other issues through our Facebook page. As soon as post appeared on the wall, we try to give suitable replies to comments,” said Anand while typing an answer to a post. Around 7,200 visitors have already registered on the traffic police page and are regularly posting their views and complaints on traffic issues, added Anand. “Users can post their problems, upload photographs of traffic violation and give suggestions to improve traffic in the city. With the Facebook page receiving good response from citizens, we have already instructed all traffic officials to check the page and reply to queries. We have issued login IDs and passwords to all traffic officials so that they can reply and also take measures to prevent traffic snarls in respective localities,’’ he said.  Anand also spends sometime each day on the HTP page replying to various posts. For instance: Vandhit Reddy, a visitor posted- “Why don’t you fix timers at every traffic signal? Absence of timers is resulting in signal jumping and accidents. Please look after this as we find timers at only some traffic signals like Banjara Hills and Mehdipatnam.” Anand replied the query with— “Timers are going to be an integral part of the new, centrally monitored, automated traffic signaling system called H-TRIMS for which the government has given consent and the tender process is going on. We have been struggling to maintain our 20-year-old, outdated, rickety signaling system.” The traffic police chief said they are also planning to hire more people to work on replying to queries. “Our staff and me regularly are monitoring the situation for providing better service to the public. “The HTP helps me a lot in learning about suggestions, problems and other issues relating to traffic. Citizens keep posting queries about e-challan, traffic signals, government vehicles’ violation of traffic rules and other issues,” he added. Anand said the Facebook page will also keep people informed about various traffic initiatives on enforcement, education and engineering and utilise Telugu to communicate with the public.