Pune traffic police to collaborate with global tech giant to tackle traffic congestion

Pune, 20 August 2024: The Pune Traffic Police Department is in talks with a global technology company to tackle traffic congestion at 302 traffic junctions across the city. Out of Pune’s 750 junctions, these 302 are equipped with traffic signals that have been identified as critical points for managing the city’s chronic traffic problems.

“We’ve already had an initial meeting with the technology firm, and further discussions are ongoing,” said Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil. “Their data can help us efficiently manage traffic at these junctions by optimizing signal timings and deploying traffic personnel where necessary,” he added.

Traffic congestion at these junctions is due to a variety of reasons and often the traffic police personnel receive information about traffic build up after some time delay. Patil said that the collaboration with the tech giant will enable the department to access real-time data, remarkably improving their ability to monitor and manage the city’s roads. “If there is a traffic jam or slow-moving traffic on a particular route, we can respond quickly with the help of this real-time data,” he explained.

The technology company will provide real-time data on traffic movements to the traffic control room, providing immediate updates on traffic conditions. The system will display red for heavy congestion or jams and green for smooth traffic flow. Patil explained, “The section of road shown in red on the screens at the traffic control room will be cleared off immediately. For this purpose, traffic cops and senior officers will remain at the troubled junctions during peak hours.”

Pune was ranked among the top 10 most congested cities globally in a 2023 traffic congestion report by TomTom. Of the four Indian cities surveyed, Bengaluru was ranked sixth, Pune seventh, New Delhi 44th, and Mumbai 54th.