When i read looked through how rasta.pk solved the issue of finding out traffic congestions immediately in my mind I remembered the saying “focus on the solution instead of focusing on the problem”.

The problem was to identify sources of traffic congestions, providing blocked road info to any medium to road users, solution

“Get the traffic police personal deputed at signals to report congestions through sms”

Rasta is result of a public private partner ship between UTNT (I guess the Screens we see around the city belong to them) and  City Traffic Police Lahore, the budgeting for this comes out of the CSR Budget of UTNT (Now this is an effective utilization of CSR Budget).

Currently I guess they are dispersing the information through FM Channel tuned to frequency 88.8 and on their website how ever in plans are updates to provide information through SMS, and provide live feeds to the traffic camera through mms and their website. They are also providing info and updates on flight and train schedule over FM.

Here is a snapshot of what you can find on the site. Good execution, if they can deliver on promise, i guess we are looking at a comprehensive road monitoring solution, will be helpful specially when out VIPs decide to drive through the city stopping every one else dead in their tracks.