Hyderabad Traffic Police, on Wednesday, launched a free Short Messaging Service to alert commuters about traffic jams and live traffic updates, and to provide information about alternate routes.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) C V Anand said the SMS service is available to anyone with a mobile phone.
For the purpose, the city has been divided into 6 different groups - HTP, HTPNORTH, HTPEAST, HTPWEST, HTPSOUTH, HTPCNTRL and HYDPOL.
To avail yourself of the free SMS alerts service, just send an SMS with the body 'JOIN ' to 92195-92195, and you will receive a message confirming your subscription.
Users who want to unsubscribe must text "LEAVE " to 92195-92195.
Hyderabadis also have the option of signing up to this service through a Web application on a Facebook page, as well as on the Hyderabad Traffic Police website.
This service is for opt-in motorists, and the only charge users need to pay is that for the initial message to start the subscription. There is no subsequent charge for receiving SMS traffic alerts.
Cell numbers in the DND (Do Not Disturb) registry will not receive the SMS. People will have to stop the DND service to receive SMS traffic alerts. (INN)