The Bengalur Traffic Police plans to convert 300 other signals to VAC mode. | Photo Credit: File Photos
“On Saturday evening I traveled from JP Nagar to the 4th block Jayanagar when I had to cross the junction of Aurobindo. AI signal went there to MNL, suggesting manual signaling and taking more than two signals to get green and go ahead.
Citizens of Bengalur cannot think of their minds regarding the signals of the vehicle control (VAC) driven AI, installed by the traffic police Bengaluru (BTP). When the numeric box in the lighting system flashes “VAC”, it means that signal cycles are controlled by AI and when MNL flashes, it means that the traffic police staff operates signal cycles.
While citizens appreciate the effectiveness of the VAC mode, most of them claim that in MNL mode more time will end signals. According to BTP officials on average, while these systems run in automated mode about 94% of the time (per day), during the remaining 6% (especially during the evening) must be controlled manually.
“The amount of manual signaling was initially about 40%. Now we overthrew it. Among the 168 intersections where we have this system installed, 125 – 130 of them work for 3 to 4% manual signaling,” said Mn Anucheth, police commissioner, Bengalurur.
10% to 17% in some intersections
More than 30 intersections in the city still have manual signaling speed anywhere between 10% and 17% despite the installation of these AI -powered systems. The highest 17% is at the intersection of Sarjapur between Outer Ring Road and Hosur Road, which provides a journey for a lot of crowd movement. Junction Town Hall, Aurobindo Junction and Siddapura Circle are some other intersections that see higher manual signaling.
“There is an inevitable amount of manual signaling in the city in the city due to the movement of ambulances and VIP.
He also added that BTP is working to shorten the manual signaling time at many of these intersections. “We start from the highest ones and work at lower and work to improve the system. Ideally we would like to reduce it to approximately 1% to 2%, so it will only have manual signaling a day,” he said.
He also stressed the fact that while 180 seconds should be the optimal time for the signal cycle, in Bengalur, this time is by no means sufficient for traffic loads. So officials are working to determine the optimal time needed for urban intersections.
“Our goal is to increase VAC signaling to 99%so that we can go to the adaptive signal control technology (ASCT).
Since BTP plans to convert 300 other signals to VAC mode in the next stage of the project, citizens question the need if manual signaling must still exist.
“The traffic police have shown that VAC has helped improve the movement of traffic. Because why go in manual mode? I see it every time I drive. Why invest in tech if you don’t trust the result?” The pineapple of Gundrao, a social media user, asked.
Signal timers from 1 May
Due to public demand, countdown timers from 1 May will be listed in full scale in all AI signal systems, because these intersections did not have the timers between red and green, and vice versa, commuters were often recognized.
“Drisplay attempts have now been completed and will be introduced at all intersections,” Anucheth said.
Published – April 27 2025 20:40 is
