BMC to upgrade traffic signal system to unclog 610 junctions across Mumbai

The civic body will hire a consultant who will study the status and problems with the signalling system.

In a bid to improve the traffic situation at major and minor junctions in the city, the civic body 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.

Of the total 610 signals in the city, 256 are linked to the sensor-based ATC but are still being operated manually. (Representational photo)

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is also looking to hire a consultant who will be expected 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, and has not been upgraded since.

While the software is supposed to support the Area Traffic Control system, it is barely functional. As a result, 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.

Of the total 610 signals in the city, the remaining 256 that have been linked to the ATC system are also currently being operated manually. With the ATC 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.”