Pelican signals for pedestrian safety in Hyderabad

Police officials of the three commissionerates have suggested to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to install Pelican signals at different locations to help pedestrians cross roads safely and comfortably.

The usage of Pelican signals is expected to cut down the number of accidents, which often go unreported as vehicles whiz past and road users try to dart across. Cyberabad, Hyderabad and Rachakonda Police Commissionerates have asked the GHMC to install 95 Pelican signals. 

Among these 25 are to be installed in Hyderabad, 39 in Cyberabad and 31 in Rachakonda Commissionerate jurisdictions. Experts consisting of officials from GHMC, traffic police, professors from Osmania and JNTU and others were formed for identifying locations for installation of signals at high traffic areas near



hospitals, educational institutions, markets and courts among others.

Currently, there are three Pelican signals being operated at Mehdipatnam, BJP office at Kukatpally and Kukatpally Housing Board bus stop for the last couple of years. There are 221 conventional traffic signals at various junctions across GHMC limits and they are equipped to facilitate pedestrian movement. Unlike existing signals, officials are planning to install advanced signals, which are estimated to cost around Rs 22 crore, including electrical and civil works. Sources said, officials were also mulling asking private agencies to not only set up Pelican signals, but also maintain and operate them. They were contemplating handing over the existing Pelican signals at KPHB for maintenance to private agencies.