Traffic cops to make available Android app to help drivers

Apart from the helpline number, the Mumbai traffic police will also make available a mobile application, MTPcall, from today. The app will be available on Google Play for mobile phones with Android operating system (OS), which will help motorists with its multiple features related to the traffic police.

The Asian Age had first reported the news earlier this year.

Joint commissioner of police, traffic, Milind Bharambe said, “The application has seven to eight uses. The symbol of the Mumbai traffic police has been used to as the app’s symbol. It will, within a short span of time, tell you if your vehicle has been towed or not. Further, it will also tell you where parking is allowed in the city. The application can also be used for getting live traffic updates, route advisory and traffic advisory.”

The application also provides information on the traffic situation in Mumbai and the entire traffic map with different colours to depict which roads are clogged and which have smooth traffic movement. It also provides details of the fines that could be charged for traffic violation. So, if motorists are caught for traffic violations, they know the amount that has to be paid as fine. Motorists can also feed the buckle number or name of the officer to verify the officer’s identity.

MTPcall application also provides a grievance system where motorists can help the traffic police by reporting any traffic-related incident like traffic jams, accidents, fallen trees and blocked roads due to illegal parking.

As of now, the application can only be used by motorists whose mobile phones have Android OS. But the traffic police department is trying to develop the application in other operating systems except for BlackBerry. The application has been developed by Science and Technology Park (STP) in Pune along with Spectrum said assistant VP of Spectrum Santosh Tamkar.

The traffic police is also planning to put up 200 digital boards across the city in the next nine months where traffic updates will be provided to them. These digital boards will be flashing information received through the help line.