Bhubaneswar enhances traffic management with AI-based smart adaptive signalling system at 25 more junctions

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to maintain and manage traffic smartly and efficiently, the Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) has initiated a process to equip 25 more junctions with an AI-based smart adaptive traffic signalling system.The new system, which was adopted under the smart city mission in 2017, already has 50 junctions equipped with smart traffic lights. Additionally, there are also 14 pelican signals for pedestrians and five blinkers for caution zones.As part of the new endeavour, BSCL, the special purpose vehicle executing smart city projects in Bhubaneswar, will install the smart adaptive traffic signalling system with additional features integrated with AI technology at 25 more junctions.BSCL general manager (administration), Purandar Nanda, told TOI that the new installations will have the automatic traffic control feature. “It is a system which will calculate the wait time and manage the traffic at the junctions accordingly,” he said.He said the new system will also have features which will help conduct a survey of the number of vehicles coming into the city through various entry points. “The survey will help us manage the traffic more smoothly at the junctions,” Nanda said.

He said that AI integration is another new layer being added to the adaptive traffic signalling system. “AI will help in emergency situations such as creating a green corridor at different points of time on a real-time basis,” the official added.Another notable feature the 25 new junctions will witness is the installation of LED light strips on the entire traffic pole. When the signal turns red, the entire pole will be lit red for better visibility and understanding of the road users.The traffic pole lighting feature is currently under implementation in Mumbai. “The new feature will give clear visibility to riders from a distance. It will help people manage their riding behaviour,” Nanda said.Additionally, the smart traffic signalling system will also have countdown timers which will show the waiting time in green and amber. “The system will work on sensor data but we decided to provie the countdown timer as an additional feature,” an official said.Officials said emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire tenders will be provided with an app using which they will be able to send a signal to the approaching junction so that the lights will turn green and they will get a clear passage during any emergency.