Traffic jams and congestion will soon be a thing of the past for the residents of Nagpur. By the end of next year, the city is expected to implement an Intelligent Integrated Traffic Management System (IITMS) that will utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor traffic signals and flow. This advancement aims to significantly improve traffic management, making commutes smoother and more efficient for everyone in Nagpur.
Whether it’s a natural disaster, political protests, or accidents, traffic flow can remain smooth thanks to AI technology. It will notify authorities about the best routes for vehicle diversion and even offer simulations of potential worst-case scenarios.
On Wednesday evening, commuters along the RBI Square-GPO Square stretch were surprised to see formally dressed individuals directing traffic at key intersections. This unusual sight was part of a demonstration for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) by one of the bidders for the Intelligent Integrated Traffic Management System (IITMS). The event showcased the company’s capabilities to meet the tender criteria, with competing bidders undergoing similar evaluations before the final contract is awarded. The IITMS aims to enhance traffic management in Nagpur by utilizing AI to monitor and adapt traffic signals in real-time.
NMC’s chief Abhijit Chaudhari stated, “Around 165 traffic signals will be part of the IITMS grid and AI will play a key role. The software will have the capacity to control traffic lights based on the number of vehicles present at a junction. So instead of a preset synchronized timer, the AI will change traffic lights to red or green to keep traffic moving.”
CCTVs on city squares will provide real-time information to the AI brain at Nagpur’s Smart City Control Room. With its eyes on every single vehicle on the connected online grid, the AI will keep making real-time decisions to ensure there’s no gridlock on Nagpur’s streets.
Chaudhari said, “The software will also throw up simulated scenarios to handle unforeseen situations. If there is a protest somewhere, we will get a simulated version of its potential impact on city traffic and solutions for that particular scenario.”
The massive data which will stream through and be processed by the software promises to be a game changer for better traffic management. It also has the potential to flag traffic violators so that authorities can take appropriate action. Chaudhari said, “After following the due process, the tender will be awarded and the winner will have 15 months to complete the work.”