AI-based traffic system proposal revisited by GVMC
With traffic congestion and road safety concerns mounting in the rapidly expanding city, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is reconsidering a proposal to introduce an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based traffic management system, officials said.
GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg has indicated that the civic body is once again examining the project in coordination with the city police, reviving an initiative that was earlier paused after initial groundwork and pilot testing.
The proposal was originally mooted by the city police and subsequently taken up by GVMC, which floated an RFP and conducted a month-long pilot trial at five junctions. The experiment was aimed at assessing the feasibility of AI-enabled adaptive traffic signal systems. However, the project was later kept in abeyance for unspecified reasons.
Officials said the renewed interest comes in the backdrop of Visakhapatnam’s fast-paced urban growth and the anticipated surge in traffic volumes. The city already houses several central government establishments, IT firms and industrial units, and is poised for further expansion with upcoming projects such as the Railway Zone headquarters, the Bhogapuram Greenfield International Airport, and the proposed Google Data Centre.
Traffic police have warned that these developments are likely to double vehicular movement in the coming years, further straining the existing road infrastructure. At present, frequent congestion is reported at major junctions, particularly during peak hours, as vehicle registrations continue to rise steadily.
Officials also noted an increase in traffic violations, including signal jumping and reckless driving, which has contributed to a rise in road accidents and fatalities in recent years.
Earlier, Police Commissioner Shankabrata Bagchi had proposed a comprehensive AI-driven traffic system involving smart CCTV cameras capable of dynamically adjusting signal timings based on real-time traffic flow. The proposal also included automated e-challan generation for violations and facial recognition features to identify repeat offenders and alert police authorities.
The project, estimated at around ₹150 crore, was submitted to GVMC for consideration. While the civic body had initially shown interest, the plan was later put on hold.
Commissioner Ketan Garg has now stated that the proposal is under fresh review, with discussions underway with the city police to prepare a joint action plan for its possible implementation.