Bengaluru’s traffic management is undergoing a significant upgrade with the deployment of AI-enabled Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) at 41 junctions across the city. This advancement marks a major step in the city’s multi-phase initiative to fully automate traffic signals, reducing the reliance on manual traffic management.
The latest implementation includes the installation of real-time automated signals at seven new junctions and the upgrade of 34 existing ones from older camera-based systems. This move is part of a broader plan that aims to equip a total of 165 junctions with AI-powered signals by the end of December. This expansion includes both upgrading 136 current signals and installing 29 new ones, primarily in areas of the city unaffected by ongoing metro or road infrastructure projects.
The ATCS signals offer three operational modes: Manual Mode: Allows traffic police to override the system in emergencies, such as ambulance or VIP movements. Vehicle Actuated Control (VAC): Utilises computer vision-enabled cameras to monitor traffic volumes and adjust signal timings dynamically. ATCS Mode: Ensures synchronisation of signals across multiple junctions to streamline traffic flow. This synchronisation capability, initially tested on KR Road and Rose Garden Road, has recently been extended to Hudson Circle. Junctions such as NR Square, Town Hall, BMTC on KH Road, Minerva Circle, and RV Teachers College are now equipped with these advanced signals.
As of September, Bengaluru manages approximately 900 junctions manually, with 405 of these having signal systems. The city currently features 32 camera-based adaptive signals and 28 junctions under the Directorate of Urban Land Transport’s (DULT) ‘MODERATO’ project. By the year’s end, the number of signalised junctions will exceed 500, incorporating the 165 ATCS installations and an additional 50 adaptive signals. This modernisation of traffic signals is expected to substantially improve traffic flow and reduce waiting times, enhancing the overall commuting experience in Bengaluru.
