The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved an Intelligent Traffic Management System for Delhi at a cost of Rs 1,789.52 crore. The Ministry of Home Affairs will oversee the project, which Delhi Police will implement across 42 major traffic corridors in three phases over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and upkeep.
The system uses artificial intelligence to adapt traffic signal timings in real time, detect violations automatically, and give priority to ambulances and emergency vehicles. It aims to reduce congestion and accidents by making better use of Delhi’s existing road network, which currently serves around 71 lakh registered vehicles.
Key facts
- Total project cost: Rs 1,789.52 crore (including taxes)
- Coverage: 42 traffic corridors across Delhi
- Implementation period: 24 months in three phases
- Operation and maintenance: 5 years after implementation
- Adaptive traffic signal locations: 1,092
- Automated enforcement locations: 1,029
- Vehicles covered: Around 71 lakh registered vehicles in Delhi
- Technical support provider: C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing)
The problem being addressed
Delhi’s traffic system today relies heavily on fixed signal timings and manual intervention by traffic police. Meanwhile, vehicle registrations have grown much faster than road construction. The existing system cannot quickly adapt to real traffic flow, causing unnecessary delays and congestion even when the road has spare capacity.
How the intelligent system will work
The ITMS combines multiple technologies into one connected platform. Adaptive traffic control systems will monitor traffic flow on each corridor and automatically adjust signal timings to match actual conditions, rather than using preset schedules. This coordination of signals along identified routes will reduce the number of times commuters have to stop unnecessarily.
Cameras and sensors will detect traffic violations such as red-light jumping, speeding, wrong-way driving, not wearing helmets or seatbelts, and mobile phone use while driving. Artificial intelligence will also identify vehicles that are stolen, blacklisted, or connected to hit-and-run cases. Repeat offenders can be flagged for enforcement action.
Real-time data on congestion, accidents and traffic incidents will be fed to a centralised Traffic Command and Control Centre. Police can then issue quicker responses through diversions or dispatch emergency services faster. Information about traffic conditions, parking availability and diversions will be sent to commuters through digital message boards and shared with navigation apps like Google Maps, allowing drivers to plan better routes.
Emergency vehicle priority
One key feature is automatic priority for ambulances and emergency vehicles. The system will create green corridors allowing these vehicles to pass through congested areas without delay, potentially saving lives in medical emergencies.
Implementation approach
Delhi Police will manage the project with a Master System Integrator chosen through competitive bidding. C-DAC will serve as the Project Management Consultant, providing technical scrutiny, monitoring, validation and acceptance during both construction and operation phases.
The three-phase rollout will be performance-driven. Each phase must pass testing, commissioning and acceptance tests before the next phase begins. The system will use open standards and application programming interfaces to allow future upgrades and integration with other traffic management tools.
What this means for you
As a Delhi driver or commuter, you can expect shorter travel times on 42 major corridors as traffic signals become smarter. Journeys will become more predictable since real-time information helps you choose less congested routes. Traffic enforcement will be faster and more consistent through automated detection rather than manual policing.
If you drive an ambulance or emergency vehicle, your response times will improve due to automatic green corridors. Road safety may improve as the system detects and acts on violations like speeding and red-light jumping more quickly.
The system’s data will help the government understand traffic patterns better, supporting future road planning decisions.
What happens next
Delhi Police will begin Phase 1 after the Master System Integrator is selected through bidding. The entire implementation is scheduled to be completed within 24 months. Once operational, the system will be maintained and monitored for five years.