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Intelligent signals to guide traffic at 50 junctions by June end
By June end, South Mumbai commuters can expect a smoother ride without having to waste time at the traffic signals. After much delay, the BMC has finally connected 50 junctions from Nariman Point to Mahalaxmi with Intelligent Area Traffic Control.
The civic body has completed work of laying underground cables, which will act as sensors, on the Phase I including 53 junctions. “Currently the signals are working on fixed time mode. In a month, we will link them with real time mode. The traffic control room will be able to reduce or add the signal time depending on the traffic at the spot,” said a senior officer from traffic department.
The project, once implemented, is expected to cut travel time, fuel consumption and reduce pollution by Real Time intelligent urban traffic management solution. The underground cables at the junction act as sensors and record the number of vehicles arriving at intersections by each access point. The acquired data will be used to constantly adjust traffic lights at each intersection in accordance with real time demand and in coordination with neighboring intersections.
“This means the busiest junctions will get some more signal time while the signal time at the roads with less traffic will be reduced,” the officer explained. The ATC will also gauge the traffic situation and send warnings to the signals ahead in case of congestion. “Like, if there is traffic chaos at Chowpatty, the signals towards Marine drive will be told to divert the traffic or have more signal time,” the officer said.
There will be two control rooms from where the traffic will be controlled: one at BMC’s data center and the other at the Traffic Police headquarters — both in Worli.
However, work still needs to be completed on Regal, Mahalaxmi and Haji Ali junction. “Due to the laying of sewer lines at Peddar Road we were unable to lay cables at Mahalaxmi and Haji Ali junction. And we need to lift the circular intersection opposite Regal cinema which will take some time,” an officer said.
On the Phase II, the work has already started on 113 junctions.
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