BMC looks to enable real-time signal tracking across Mumbai

The corporation is also looking to hire a consultant responsible to study the status and problems with the signalling system and suggest better mechanisms to manage traffic

In a bid to improve the traffic situation at major and minor junctions in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is looking to overhaul the signal management system.

The move is expected to enables real-time tracking of traffic at a given junction in the city and change the signal timings accordingly. It is aimed at upgrading the sensor-based system called Area Traffic Control (ATC), which derives signal timings based on traffic congestion.

The corporation is also looking to hire a consultant responsible to study the status and problems with the signalling system and suggest better mechanisms to manage traffic. Currently, the signals run on a software that was created 10 years ago which has not been upgraded since.

Traffic lights linked to Area Traffic Control (ATC) were supposed to work in collaboration to ease the flow of vehicles on a particular stretch. This has not happened because of the software glitch.

The result being, most signals are operated manually or run for a pre-determined duration without taking the real-time traffic situation into account.

Currently, there are 354 such signals in the city that are either run manually or operate on a pre-determined timing.

In fact, of these 610 signals in the city, 256 have been linked to the Area Traffic Control system and these too are being operated manually.

With the Area Traffic Control in effect, green signals would last longer during peak traffic hours and signals would change lights faster during lean traffic hours.

A senior civic official said, “We are studying the issue, after discussing it with the traffic police. After this, we will figure out if we can upgrade the system or it needs to be overhauled entirely. We will appoint a consultant to study the situation to develop an effective traffic management system.”

The current software is supposed to support the Area Traffic Control (ATC) system but it is barely functional. The result being, most signals are operated manually or run for a pre-determined duration without taking the real-time traffic situation into account.