In a bid to make the city streets friendlier for the visually-impaired, the Traffic Police are planning to install beepers at their new Area Traffic Control signals. The beepers will inform the visually-impaired when to cross the road. Initially, these beepers will be set up near schools for the visually impaired, like the National Association for the Blind school at Worli.

“There are a few reasons behind our decision to install beepers at the new signals, but more importantly it is to help the visually-impaired cross the roads themselves. The beeping sound will indicate when the signal turns green or red,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sanjay Barve. Elaborating on the plan, Barve said, “The beepers will indicate when pedestrians can cross apart from indicating the change in signal. The sound of the beep will decrease indicating the change in signal and cautioning the visually-impaired from crossing the roads.”

“This system is already in place in some foreign countries. It should be set up in the city this monsoon. Initially, it will be set up around and near schools for the visually impaired since they are the ones to be benefited the most. Later, it would be installed across the city,” added Sanjay Barve.

Associations, which work with the visually impaired, have welcomed the move. “This is a very good move. A visually impaired persons will now be able to cross roads themselves,” said K Ramakrishna of the National Association of the Blind. “In 1995, the government passed the Disability Act and this is reflecting its provisions. However, I am only worried that lack of maintenance may cause hindrance to the plan,” Hegde said Vasant Hegde the general secretary of the National Federation of the Blind (Maharashtra).

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