Surat, January 24: Finally, an end to never-ending tales of traffic woes. To cope with traffic-related problems in Surat, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has embarked on a unique project called Traffic Academy where citizens, especially schoolchildren, will be educated on the traffic management.

The two-storey building of Traffic Academy will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 58 lakh at the Children’s Park at Majuragate. The academy will impart all required information on the traffic management. The proposed building will have an exhibition hall, a conference hall, separate class-rooms for schoolchildren and general public, elevator facility for the physically challenged, parking facilities.

The SMC authorities have proposed to introduced an extra subject on ‘Traffic sense and management’ for schoolchildren studying in the 141 schools run by the SMC’s Nagar Prathamik Shikshan Samiti. The schoolchildren will be taken to the academy once in a week.

The proposed project has been sent for approval in the Public Works Committee of the SMC, sources said. The committee is likely to approve the project in a day or two.

The decision to set up the academy was taken a week ago after the SMC, Regional Transport Office (RTO) and the traffic police had a meeting. The discussions were mainly on solving city traffic problems.

Surat Mayor Dr Kanu Mavani said, ‘‘The population growth in the city has risen in the last five to six years. With the population growth, the traffic too increased, resulting into traffic-related problems like congestion, mishaps, haphazard driving. There was a need to solve the rising number of traffic problems. And so, imparting traffic education became a necessity.’’

Nitin Vaidya of the SMC’s Traffic Cell said, ‘‘Awareness and education on traffic sense and management is necessary. The Traffic Academy will act as the one-stop-shop for the general public as well as the schoolchildren.’’

Municipal Commissioner Pankaj Joshi said, ‘‘The proposed Traffic Academy project will be first-of-its-kind across the State. The academy will be entirely dedicated to solving traffic problems. We are focusing on the schoolchildren for whom the education would come in handy later when they drive vehicles.’’

Source: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=166988