Hi-tech Road Infrastructure for Mumbai

The World Bank will release Rs 55 crore under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (phase II) to revamp the city's traffic system.

This amount will be provided to implement an Automatic Traffic Control system that would use sensors to ensure a smooth flow of traffic. It will also cut the waiting time at junctions to less than a minute. Installing the system across 253 major traffic junctions will cost Rs 55 crore, or approximately Rs 2 lakh per junction.

How it works
Sensors would be embedded on roads to detect the number of vehicles on it.
"These state-of-the-art detectors will ascertain the number of vehicles lined up and transmit a message for a signal change when the number crosses a specified limit," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Satish Mathur.

The sensors will relay the message to the signal controller who will, depending upon the area, transmit it to one of the two central computers at the BMC headquarters at CST or the traffic police hub at Worli. The central servers will transmit messages back to ensure a smooth traffic flow.

Currently, timers control traffic movement at junctions.

Special preference
Police vehicles, ambulances, fire brigade tenders and even BEST buses will be privileged vehicles under the new system. These vehicles will be fitted with special chips that would beam a message to the road sensors, which in turn will transmit it to a central computer. This will ensure a minimum waiting time for the vehicle.

Who will benefit?
Initially, only 53 of the 253 traffic junctions will be installed with the hi-tech device. Some areas currently identified include CST, Churchgate, Mahim Causeway, Siddhivinayak temple-Prabhadevi crossing, Dadar TT, Turner Road, Kalanagar-Bandra junction, Centaur Hotel junction, Western Express Highway and Andheri Station-SV Road crossing. In the Eastern suburbs, the ATC system will be implemented at Powai junction, LBS-Wadia, Chembur Railway Station, Govandi Road and the Mankhurd-Charkhop link road.