The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) for Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 1,789.52 crore. The project, to be implemented by Delhi Police, will cover 42 identified traffic corridors and will be executed in three phases over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance.
The technology-driven initiative aims to improve traffic movement, road safety and incident response by introducing real-time traffic monitoring, artificial intelligence-based traffic signals and automated enforcement. The government said the project would help optimise Delhi's existing road network, where rising vehicle numbers and limited infrastructure expansion have contributed to persistent congestion.
Adaptive signals to reduce congestion
The proposed system will introduce Adaptive Traffic Control Systems that automatically adjust signal timings according to traffic conditions. Unlike conventional signals operating on fixed timers, the new system will respond to traffic volumes and coordinate signals along major corridors to reduce unnecessary stoppages and delays.
The system will also facilitate green corridors for ambulances and other emergency vehicles, allowing them to move faster through congested stretches. Real-time monitoring will enable Delhi Police to identify traffic congestion, slow-moving vehicles and road incidents, helping authorities implement diversions and respond more quickly.
AI-powered enforcement and commuter information
The ITMS will strengthen automated detection of traffic violations, including red-light jumping, speeding, wrong-side driving, illegal parking, failure to wear helmets or seat belts and the use of mobile phones while driving. AI-based analytics will also help identify stolen and blacklisted vehicles, repeat offenders and vehicles involved in hit-and-run incidents.
Commuters will receive real-time information about congestion, diversions, parking availability and prevailing traffic conditions through digital platforms and electronic message boards. Relevant information may also be shared with navigation service providers to help motorists plan their journeys.
Implementation across 42 corridors
The project will cover 1,092 adaptive traffic control locations and 1,029 enforcement locations across the national capital. Traffic Command and Control Centres will integrate traffic regulation, automated enforcement and public information systems through a common digital platform.
Delhi Police will implement the project through a Master System Integrator selected through competitive bidding. The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) will provide technical assistance as the Project Management Consultant, overseeing technical scrutiny, monitoring, validation and acceptance during implementation and subsequent operations.
The government said implementation would be performance-driven, with each subsequent phase beginning after the preceding phase had been evaluated against prescribed testing and operational parameters. The initiative is expected to improve traffic management and emergency response while strengthening technology-based enforcement across Delhi's road network.