The city traffic police have started providing SMS service to alert citizens about traffic jams, accidents or vehicle break-downs in the city.
For subscribing to the traffic alerts, one has to type JOIN (space) PTP and send it to 09219592195 and start getting the updates. There is no extra charge for sending the SMS and joining the service.
If a person wants to stop the SMS service, he or she would have to type LEAVE (space) PTP and send it to the same number.
The police have tied up with a Delhi-based company, Gupshup, to provide the service. The trials of the service were held recently.
The deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Manoj Patil told reporters, “We have got a good response on Facebook about the updates that the traffic police give. Now, we want to make Puneites more alert and have launched this scheme.”
“Such traffic alert projects are running successfully in Delhi, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai for the last three years,’’ he added.
More citizens have a cellphone rather than regular access to the Internet. A team comprising one engineer, four constables and a senior police officer will send the alert messages, he added.
According to Patil, alerts will be sent during emergencies like traffic snarls and VIP movements on a day-to-day basis. The traffic police have set an initial target of 25,000 subscribers by April-end.
