With Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) slated to start work on the Sitabuldi-Hingna Road depot stretch, traffic problems are set to increase. NMRCL has therefore set up a control room and formed a quick response team (QRT) to ease traffic congestion. The two facilities will also help citizens in case of accidents and assist NMRCL in case of fire or theft at construction sites. Brijesh Dixit, managing director of NMRCL, said the QRT was a mobile unit, with four trained personnel moving around in a vehicle. “One of them is a trained medical professional, who will provide first aid in case of accidents,” he said.
The Metro control room has the numbers of QRT, traffic police officials, doctors, blood banks and NMRCL officers. “If any citizen calls on our toll free number 18002700557, the control room staffers will inform the concerned person. We will paint this number on our barricades at regular intervals,” Dixit said.
The control room will not depend only on calls from citizens. “In case of any emergency, QRT staffers patrolling the areas where construction is underway will inform the control room. We have installed 20 cameras on Wardha Road, with visuals streaming live on control room screens. The control room staffers will act on their own if they see anything on the screen,” Dixit added.
Brigadier Ranjit Mishra (retd) of Great Wall Security, which has provided QRT to NMRCL, said the QRT comprises of a leader, two guards and the driver. “Other than helping citizens, QRT will ensure safety and security of NMRCL staff and also start primary investigation in cases of theft of NMRCL property,” he told the media. “We will assist traffic police in easing traffic jams,” he added.
