A pilot signalling system was launched at seven crossings in Dhaka city on Saturday.
Though a press release issued by the road transport and bridges ministry on the day said that the piloting would start from today, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority executive director Neelima Akhter confirmed the system was launched on Saturday.
鈥業t was a misunderstanding,鈥� she said.
The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority is coordinating the pilot.
Later on Saturday night, the ministry issued a revised press release reading that the system was launched on that day.
The crossings where the pilot is implemented are: the InterContinental hotel, Banglamotor, Sonargaon hotel, Farmgate, Bijoy Sarani, Chief Adviser鈥檚 Office, and Jahangir Gate.
The chief adviser鈥檚 special assistant to the ministries of road transport and railways Sheik Moinuddin told 抖阴精品 on Saturday that along with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, students would help road users follow the system.
Replying to a question, he said that though the signalling system supposed to be fully automated, at first the police would operate it to make people accustomed with it.
鈥楩or this reason we will do it partly manually, while the police will monitor traffic congestion through watching TV footage inside the police boxes, and intervene to control the traffic when necessary,鈥� he said.
After few months when road users would become accustomed to the signalling system, it would go fully automated.
At the same time they were already processing tender to bring more crossings under the signal system, Sheik Moinuddin added. 聽聽聽
At some of the crossings selected for the pilot, traffic signals were seen working on Saturday.
At Sonargaon crossing drivers were seen following the signals.聽
Earlier the decision on the pilot was taken at a meeting held at the DTCA office on August 28, chaired by Sheik Moinuddin.
He also visited the seven crossings on Friday.
According to the ministry, the signalling system was developed in local technology.
The seven crossings are situated on the corridor stretching from the Shikkha Bhaban area to the airport, having 22 crossings in total.
The pilot initiative has been financed by the two Dhaka city corporations.
Experts from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology gave advice for the pilot.
BUET experts also gave training to Dhaka Metropolitan Police members in this regard.
During the pilot leaflets would be distributed among the pedestrians and drivers while awareness-based contents would be broadcasted on television channels, ministry officials said.
The automated traffic signalling system has remained ineffective in the capital for the past several years.
Traffic police are still seen handling traffic signals manually, as signals, first established in 2001鈥�2002, do not function properly in many areas.
Different initiatives, including the launch of timer countdowns, digital display boards, solar panels, remote control systems, and the intelligent traffic system, costing crores of taka also proved futile.