A highway police website,connected to Google Map to enable citizens to access traffic updates on the move,was launched on Friday. Home Minister RR Patil,who had recently begun blogging and opened a Facebook account,launched the website. Besides details of the Motor Vehicle Act and latest news of traffic jams,the website enlists two helpline numbers and details of wanted vehicles and accused in cases registered with the police. By evening,it was reporting traffic jam in Amboli Ghat in Sindhudurg due to landslide and in the Kasar Ghat,and overflowing of rivers in Udgir in Latur. Superintendent of Police (Highways) BG Shekhar said the website could be accessed from mobile phones. The state has over 7,000 km of national and state highways. Claiming that the website was a first of its kind,Patil said it would address needs such as location of the nearest hospital and police station along the highway in case of an accident. Road mishaps claim over 12,000 lives annually. With the help of this website,people can get the information whenever needed.
