Smart signals, automated challans and green corridors: How Delhi’s new traffic system will work

The government on Wednesday approved a ₹1,789.52-crore Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) for Delhi that will use artificial intelligence, adaptive traffic signals and automated enforcement to improve traffic flow and road safety.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved implementation of the project by the Delhi Police.

The system will cover 42 identified traffic corridors and be implemented in three phases over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance, according to an official statement.

Why does Delhi need an intelligent traffic system?

Delhi has around 71 lakh active registered vehicles, and the expansion of road infrastructure has not kept pace with the growth in vehicles.

Traffic management continues to rely substantially on fixed signal timings and manual intervention. This can result in signals operating on predetermined cycles even when traffic volumes change sharply during the day.

The ITMS is designed to make traffic signals and enforcement more responsive to actual road conditions, allowing authorities to make better use of existing road capacity rather than relying only on expanding infrastructure.

How will traffic signals become 'smart'?

The system will deploy Adaptive Traffic Control Systems that can adjust signal timings based on prevailing traffic conditions.

Adaptive signals will dynamically adjust timings according to traffic conditions and coordinate signals along identified corridors to reduce delays and stoppages.

The system will also facilitate priority movement for ambulances and other emergency vehicles through green corridors.

Real-time detection of congestion, slow-moving traffic, accidents and other road incidents will help the Delhi Police respond faster and make diversions where required.

Commuters will receive information on congestion, diversions, parking availability and traffic conditions through Variable Message Sign boards and digital platforms.

Such information may also be shared with navigation service providers like Google Maps and Apple Maps.

Will traffic violations be detected automatically?

Yes. The technology-based enforcement system will enable automated detection of violations, including red-light and stop-line violations, speeding, wrong-way driving, non-use of helmets and seat belts, illegal parking 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 cases.

Under the project, 1,092 adaptive traffic control system locations and 1,029 enforcement locations will be covered.

The project will bring traffic regulation, enforcement and information dissemination onto a common platform through Traffic Command and Control Centres, supported by a secure Data Centre and Disaster Recovery infrastructure.

Who will implement it?

The Delhi Police will implement the project through a Master System Integrator selected through competitive bidding.

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) will provide technical support as Project Management Consultant, including technical scrutiny, monitoring, validation and acceptance during implementation and the subsequent operation and maintenance period.