Delhi Police will implement an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) across 42 identified traffic corridors after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Rs 1,789.52-crore project, including taxes.
The technology-led project will be rolled out in three phases over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance. It will cover 1,092 Adaptive Traffic Control Systems and 1,029 enforcement locations.
The initiative is aimed at improving traffic management and urban mobility by using real-time traffic data, adaptive signals, automated enforcement and integrated command-and-control systems.
Delhi currently has around 71 lakh active registered vehicles, while the growth in vehicles has substantially outpaced the expansion of road infrastructure. Traffic management also continues to rely significantly on fixed signal timings and manual intervention.
Explaining the proposed changes at a Union Cabinet briefing, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "Currently, all 1,529 traffic signals operate on fixed timers. This means that if a signal is programmed for 30 or 35 seconds, even if there is heavy traffic coming from one direction and very little from another, the red light will still remain on for the full 30 seconds. Instead, if the system becomes adaptive, intelligent, and capable of dynamic changes, the direction with heavier traffic and build-up gets a shorter red light, while the side with less traffic gets a longer red light duration."
The system will dynamically adjust signal timings based on prevailing traffic conditions and coordinate signals along identified corridors. It will also enable green corridors and priority movement for emergency vehicles.
Vaishnaw said the technology could also be used to address congestion at roundabouts.
"At roundabouts (rotaries) in Delhi, logjams often occur. Practically everyone tries to enter from all directions, making it very difficult to exit the rotary. In such situations, can we have an intelligent system where no lights operate during low-traffic periods, but whenever traffic becomes intense, it can monitor and regulate the rotary in a circular sequence with 5-second intervals to hold traffic? All these solutions are possible through ITMS."
Real-time systems under the project will detect congestion, slow-moving traffic and road incidents, allowing Delhi Police to respond through quicker diversions and operational measures.
Variable Message Sign boards and digital platforms will provide information on congestion, diversions, parking availability and traffic conditions. This information may also be shared with navigation service providers to help commuters make travel choices.
The ITMS will also strengthen automated detection of 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 assist in identifying stolen, hot-listed and blacklisted vehicles, repeat violators and vehicles connected with hit-and-run incidents.
Traffic regulation, enforcement and information dissemination will be integrated through Traffic Command and Control Centres, supported by secure Data Centre and Disaster Recovery infrastructure. The system will follow open standards and APIs for future integration and scalability.
The project will be implemented through a Master System Integrator selected by Delhi Police through competitive bidding. C-DAC will provide technical support as Project Management Consultant, including technical scrutiny, monitoring, validation and acceptance during implementation and operation and maintenance.
Implementation will be performance-driven, with each subsequent phase taken up after evaluation of the previous phase against prescribed testing, commissioning, acceptance and performance parameters.
According to the CCEA release, the ITMS forms part of wider efforts by the Central Government and the Government of NCT of Delhi to improve traffic management, transport infrastructure and urban mobility in the National Capital. The project is expected to provide the technology and real-time intelligence needed to use the existing road network more efficiently.