Visakhapatnam to Get AI-Enabled Traffic Management System
The Andhra Pradesh government has approved the implementation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) in Visakhapatnam at an estimated cost of ₹99.19 crore, paving the way for AI-driven traffic enforcement across the city.
The project, named Project Sarathi, will cover 101 major traffic junctions within the city limits. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is expected to invite tenders shortly for its execution.
According to officials, the city records over 1,500 road accidents every year, resulting in around 400 deaths and more than 1,200 injuries. With Visakhapatnam witnessing rapid urban growth and increasing vehicle density, traffic congestion and enforcement have emerged as significant challenges, especially at key intersections during peak hours.
The proposed system will deploy AI-powered surveillance cameras capable of detecting traffic violations such as overspeeding, signal jumping, riding without helmets, triple riding, use of mobile phones while driving, driving without seat belts, and the use of non-standard number plates, automatically generating e-challans linked to the vehicle’s registration number.
Officials said cameras equipped with facial recognition technology would also assist police in identifying persons with criminal records, suspects, and other individuals flagged in law enforcement databases.
Of the total project cost, ₹60 crore has been earmarked for the installation of cameras and communication infrastructure, while ₹39.19 crore has been allocated towards operation and maintenance of the system for five years.
The infrastructure component will be funded through contributions from GVMC, the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. GVMC and VMRDA have agreed to contribute ₹20 crore each, while the remaining ₹20 crore is to be raised through CSR contributions.
The State government has also permitted the maintenance expenditure for five years to be met from revenues generated through traffic violation penalties collected under the system.
GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg said government approval had been received and the tendering process would begin shortly. He expressed confidence that the system would improve traffic discipline and significantly reduce road accidents and fatalities.