Traffic FM likely to air in 6 months

KATHMANDU, May 1: Getting caught up in a traffic jam is as irritating as any other commuting hassle. Normally you are not happy to leave home with your mind blank about the traffic status along the way ahead. What if you have a choice to tune in to a radio frequency that keeps updating you on the status of traffic throughout the city?



The idea of Traffic FM will most probably materialized within six months. “I want everybody tuning in to Traffic FM before leaving home or setting hands on their vehicles,” said DIG Bigyan Raj Sharma, chief of Metropolitan Traffic Police Office (MTPO), Baggikhana. [break]



MPTO has started groundwork for airing Traffic FM within six months. To be installed on the roof of the Baggikhana building, the radio service is to initially operate 12 hours a day from 8 AM to 8 PM, constantly informing people about road traffic in the capital valley.



“I am preparing a detailed proposal and am consulting government authorities, experts and the corporate sector in this regard,” Sharma said. “I will soon be forwarding the proposal through police headquarters to the line ministries.”



The proposal includes an initial budget of Rs 5 million to cover infrastructure and preliminary operations. “The project, which could be executed on such a small budget, entails large advantages for the public,” Sharma said. “I assure you the FM service will not only guide commuters in taking road decisions but most importantly also help ease the roiling traffic. It will also work to lift public awareness.”



MTPO has fast-tracked its work to complete the legal formalities for the radio station within a couple of weeks. “Being a government-run facility for public welfare, it will get a frequency band immediately.” Sharma said.



Traffic FM, which is likely to generate a large audience, could also do well revenue-wise. “The revenue can be used for better traffic management,” he added.



MPTO and other authorities that have together been working on the project consider that a special set of directives as well as a mechanism could be implemented by the government to deal with revenue from Traffic FM.



MTPO has already strengthened its control room as part of preparations for Traffic FM. Information to be transmitted by the proposed FM would be based on what is gathered by the control room.



“I am going to involve partially disabled cops, conflict victims and women traffic police in the FM service,” Sharma said. “They will have the privilege of working to inform the people.”

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