NHA’s Mobile App To Provide Live Traffic Updates On Highways

[ghazi52]

NHA’s Mobile App To Provide Live Traffic Updates On Highways

National Highways Authority (NHA) has released an app on Google’s Play Store to ensure improved e-governance and take forward the “Right to Information” initiative with live traffic updates.

The app, NHA-IS, has been developed to improve the service for users and facilitate the commuters with timely news about weather, highway blockages, and diversions. Moreover, the mobile app will also help build a systematic feedback channel to answer the queries of the commuters.


An interactive map is also provided by the NHA in the app which is highly usable as it gives details of all the districts of Pakistan with CPEC alignments, Highways chainage in KMs, Motorways chainage, Motorways interchanges, Weigh stations, and Toll Plazas.

For now, the app only contains the data regarding toll taxes, road safety guidelines, emergency contact numbers and the future projects of NHA. The government is determined to enhance its usability by providing live traffic updates and alternative routes.

Note that, Motorway National Highways & Motorway Police (NH&MP) is already benefiting the users with a mobile app which provides weather updates and important news regarding Pakistan Motorways.

NHA has a network of more than 39 National Highways and Motorways which comprises of almost 12000 km. Although it just covers 4.6% of the total national road network, 80% of the commercial traffic uses NHA.

Citizens are appreciating the government’s effort to digitize the country’s highways but also reporting issues regarding the app in the comments section at Play Store.

 

[ghazi52]

Mobile App developed to ensure safe journey on highways in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: National Highway Authority (NHA) has taken an innovative initiative with introduction of mobile App, which enables travelers to get information regarding road safety - fog, weather and traffic condition.

The basic purpose behind this move is to serve commuters and ensure safe journey on motorways and highways in country, especially during foggy and smoggy conditions.

The application software is designed to aid travelers by timely notification of available scenarios, fed into system by App Monitors of NH&MP and displayed on user dashboard through virtual bulletin boards.

The range of messages covers blockades, closures, diversion, fog, blind spots, black spots and congestions.

The authority, keeping in mind safe journey for commuters, has also ensured placement of traffic signs including warning signs, regulatory signs and information signs to warn and guide drivers of upcoming changes in roads, e.g. placement of chevrons on curves.

Official sources on Sunday said placement of reflective Pavement Markings on center lanes and road edges, placement of Cat Eyes along with Pavement Markings to make night driving safe and placement of Delineators and Angle reflectors on new Jersey Barrier were also assured to help drivers during foggy season and night time.

The sources said NHA has provided lighting in urban areas to increase safety during foggy season while informatory boards, kilometer posts and gantry sign boards were also 0placed which are helpful during driving in foggy smoggy season.

Weather/foggy conditions are determined through Variable Message Sign (VMS).

Similarly, highlighting the steps taken by National Highway & Motorway Police (NH&MP) the sources said these include: Public Service Vehicle (PSV) transporters are directed to put on fog lights in front as well as in rear.

In dense fog, when visibility is zero, slow moving and non-motorized vehicles are being parked at safe places i.e.petrol pumps or hotels till visibility is improved.

The vehicles carrying load projected outside vehicles dimension are not allowed to enter on National Highways during foggy season.

Effective coordination with Frontier Works Organization (FWO), Edhi, Rescue 1122 and Meteorological Departments to tackle any emergency situation.

The sources said special attention is being paid on briefing to road users about safety measures including: speed limits, use of fog lights, driving care in fog, safe distance, avoid unnecessary travelling etc.

Moreover, briefing to slow moving vehicles includes: use of reflectors/pasting of reflectors by NH&MP, avoid travelling on highway after sunset, use of hard shoulder/soft shoulder, guidance centers have been established with Helpline 130 facility for road users as well as general public to make themselves update through landline while Beat Control communicate the briefing officer about prevailingemergency situation and necessary instructions for road users.

The sources said status of fog point (point to point) is being conveyed well in time through electronic and print media (TV channels and FM) for convenience and safety of road users, black-spots are properly monitored and covered to avoid any attempt of robbery/dacoity on highways while special anti-crime squads are being deployed at crime black spots in order to avert any attempt of crime.

Moreover, maximum safety/precautionary measures like wearing of reflecting jackets and use of strobe/fog lights, hooter are being taken with extra vigilance and diligence by NH&MP officers.

National Highway and Motorway Police have also launched an App "NHMP Hamsafar".

The users can call on NH&MP helpline 130 by pressing this menu.

This will connect the call to NH&MP Call Centre.

The official channel allocated to NH&MP is FM-95 which operates round the clock with mandate to impart road safety awareness through entertainment and also transmit regular updates on national road network.