Cabinet Approves ₹1,789 Crore Intelligent Traffic Management System for Delhi
The Cabinet has approved a ₹1,789 crore ITMS project to fix Delhi's traffic woes using adaptive signals and AI-driven enforcement.
In a major move to tackle the growing congestion in the national capital, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has greenlit the implementation of the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS). This massive project, to be executed by the Delhi Police, comes with an estimated budget of ₹1,789.52 crore, including all taxes.
The initiative aims to overhaul how the city's roads function by shifting from rigid, manual systems to a high-tech, data-driven approach. The project will target 42 specific traffic corridors and will be rolled out in three distinct phases over a period of 24 months, followed by five years of dedicated operation and maintenance.
Ending the Era of Fixed Timers
One of the most significant changes will be the transition from fixed-timer signals to adaptive ones. Currently, Delhi's 1,529 traffic signals operate on pre-set durations, which often leads to unnecessary delays. Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted this inefficiency during a Union Cabinet briefing.
"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," Vaishnaw explained.
With the new ITMS, the system will become dynamic. If one direction sees a massive buildup of vehicles, the signals can adjust to clear the congestion, while directions with minimal traffic will receive shorter red lights. This intelligence will also extend to roundabouts, where the system can monitor intensity and regulate traffic in circular sequences to prevent the common logjams seen at rotaries.
Smart Features of the ITMS Project
As Delhi's registered vehicles have surged to approximately 71 lakh, the existing road infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. The ITMS is designed to maximize the utility of current roads through several advanced technological layers:
- Adaptive Traffic Control: Signals will adjust in real-time based on actual road conditions, reducing avoidable stops and delays.
- Emergency Priority: The system will facilitate "green corridors," allowing emergency vehicles to move through congested areas with much higher speed and safety.
- Real-Time Incident Detection: The Delhi Police will be able to detect congestion, slow-moving traffic, or road accidents instantly, allowing for quicker diversions.
- Digital Information Sharing: Variable Message Sign boards and digital platforms will update commuters on parking availability, diversions, and congestion levels. This data may also be shared with navigation apps to help drivers make better choices.
AI-Driven Enforcement and Security
The project isn't just about moving vehicles faster; it is also about making the roads safer through automated enforcement. The system will use advanced technology to detect a wide range of traffic violations, including:
- Red-light and stop-line violations
- Speeding and wrong-way driving
- Non-use of helmets and seat belts
- Illegal parking and mobile phone usage while driving
Furthermore, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will allow authorities to perform deep analytics. This will assist in identifying blacklisted or stolen vehicles, tracking repeat offenders, and locating vehicles involved in hit-and-run incidents.
All these functions—regulation, enforcement, and information sharing—will be centralized through dedicated Traffic Command and Control Centres, supported by secure data infrastructure to ensure the system remains scalable and ready for future technological shifts.