Traffic wing to be computerised

The project to computerise the functioning of traffic police was under consideration for the last two to three years. However, the actual launching of the project became possible only after the Rose and Lomorris Trust and the Kum Industries sponsored the purchase of two computers, he added.

The relevant data would be fed into the police computer system in three separate stages. The work of entering the data is expected to be completed with a couple of months, according to DCP Pawar.

In the first phase, the police would computerise the data about registration and ownership of all three and six-seater autorickshaws as well as information about crimes and offenses they were involved in in the past.

In the second stage, the police would feed similar data about two-wheelers and other vehicles registered with the Pune RTO. Information on license holders and their suspected involvement in commission of various crimes and offenses would be fed into the computer system in the third week.

While the TELCO has already offered programming help, Omega Computers has shown willingness to assist in developing the software required to store and analyse the data.

The NIC, which has already compiled information on the registration and ownership of vehicles registered with the Pune RTO till 1992, has offered to share the data.

The data from NIC is expected to be delivered to the traffic police within a week after which the work of updating it will commence, DCP Pawar said. Besides, he added, the traffic wing was also negotiating with the Pune RTO about sharing the information.

A team of 10 constables led by Sub Inspector Kranti Pawar has been assigned to carry out the data entering work. These police personnel have already completed a nine month long computer training programme offered by the Rose and Loramorris Trust.

Computerisation of the traffic wing is expected to enable the police to take more effective action against habitual traffic offenders. It is also expected to speed up investigations in cases lodged at under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, especially in solving vehicle theft and investigation of the crimes involving get-away vehicles.

In normal circumstances, the police officials contact the RTO to find out the owners of the vehicles recovered from suspected vehicle thieves or those used by criminals. However, top police officials say this takes a long time as two separate departments are involved. This time would be reduced if the information is made available with the traffic wing, they added.