Delhi’s traffic signals could soon become more responsive to the traffic they are actually handling, rather than operating largely on fixed timings.The Centre has approved a Rs 1,789.52-crore Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) for the capital, bringing signals, traffic enforcement, emergency vehicle movement and commuter information onto an integrated technology platform.Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday that the system will effectively add a “brain” to Delhi’s traffic management system. It will be implemented in three phases and corridor-wise, with C-DAC serving as the technology partner.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the project, which will cover 42 identified traffic corridors.It will be implemented over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance.
How Delhi’s new traffic system will work
Delhi has around 71 lakh active registered vehicles, while vehicle growth has outpaced the expansion of road infrastructure. The ITMS is designed to make better use of the existing road network by using real-time traffic data and technology-based traffic management.The project will deploy 1,092 Adaptive Traffic Control System locations, allowing signal timings to change according to prevailing traffic conditions. Signals along identified corridors will also be coordinated to reduce avoidable stoppages and delays.The system will bring traffic regulation, enforcement and information dissemination together through Traffic Command and Control Centres, supported by a secure Data Centre and Disaster Recovery infrastructure.The project will also use 1,029 enforcement locations. Automated systems will detect violations including red-light and stop-line violations, speeding, wrong-way driving, illegal parking, failure to wear helmets or seat belts and use of mobile phones while driving.AI-based analytics will also assist in identifying stolen, hot-listed and blacklisted vehicles, repeat offenders and vehicles linked to hit-and-run incidents.
Ambulances to get priority, commuters to get live updates
One of the key features will be priority movement for ambulances and other emergency vehicles. The system will facilitate green corridors, allowing emergency vehicles to move faster through congested stretches.Real-time detection of congestion, slow-moving traffic and road incidents will enable Delhi Police to respond more quickly and introduce diversions where required.For commuters, Variable Message Sign boards and digital platforms will provide information on congestion, diversions, parking availability and prevailing traffic conditions.The information may also be shared with navigation service providers.
Three-phase rollout across 42 corridors
The ITMS will be rolled out corridor-wise in three phases. Each subsequent phase will begin after the preceding phase is evaluated against prescribed testing, commissioning, acceptance and performance parameters.Delhi Police will implement the project through a Master System Integrator, selected through competitive bidding. C-DAC will provide technical support as the Project Management Consultant, including technical scrutiny, monitoring, validation and acceptance during implementation and the subsequent operation and maintenance period.The system will use open standards and APIs, allowing future integration and expansion.The Centre said the project is intended to complement ongoing improvements in Delhi’s road and transport infrastructure by providing real-time intelligence to manage the existing network.The system is expected to support smoother traffic movement, safer roads, quicker incident response, technology-based enforcement and more predictable travel for citizens.
