Page 14 - Traffic infratech magazine

NEWS

Kerala’s first EV Google Maps launch special feature
charging station in oogle Maps has launched “Stay select the “Stay Safer” and “Get off-
Kochi Safer”, an Indian feature that route alerts” option.
Gwould alert Android users
n order to encourage the use of travelling in public vehicles like taxis or The company also launched three
electric vehicles in the state of Kerala, auto rickshaws if their drivers deviate new public transport features including
Ivehicle charging station was launched more than 0.5km from the suggested live train status, to help Map users in
in Edapally, Kochi in the last week of route on Google Maps. The users’ 10 of the largest cities in India to see
June. This is supposed to be the second phones would buzz with a prominent bus travel times from live traffic, get live
EV charging station in the southern part notification which they would be able to train status for Indian Railways and get
of India after Hyderabad. The station will tap on and see where they are compared mixed-mode commute suggestions that
be charging electric vehicles free of cost to the original route. After searching for now combine auto-rickshaw and public
for the first three months. your destination and getting directions, transport.
Charging the electric vehicle fully takes
about 90 minutes. Power Grid Corporation
of India, an Indian government company
of electric utilities, has provided the basic
facilities for the initiative. More charging
outlets will be built across the state. It is
estimated that about 35 charging stations
are proposed to be built in the state by
2020. Meanwhile, Kerala Automobiles
Ltd, a public sector undertaking, has
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with Switzerland-based HESS AG to
manufacture electric buses in the state. In
addition to this, Kochi Metro Rail Limited
(KMRL) has also proposed to introduce
electric buses in the state.

Vigilance and monitoring beefed up on Highways

he Ministry of Road Transport the ministry followed by installation of
in a first has planned to have an CCTV cameras on 11 highway stretches
Tinitiative to monitor violations of in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Himachal
traffic rules on national highways. Mobile Pradesh and Bihar.
teams of ex-defence personnel armed The deployed personnel will patrol
with body-cameras will be deployed by the designated stretches and will record
traffic violations. Also, CCTV cameras
will be fixed at every 5km to capture
all violations around the spot. The
cameras used in this project including
body cameras will give direct feed to
the control rooms. They will be linked to
the Police Control Room so that challan
can be issued, or necessary action can
be taken.
The pilot will cover 1,550km of NH
corridors, which have been identified
based on high rate of accidents and will
involve about Rs 300Cr expenditure.
The World Bank will provide financial
assistance for this project.

14 June-July ’19 / TrafficInfraTech www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com