Move comes after 18 months of glitches and complaints
The long-defunct AI-driven traffic management system at Merces junction.
Photo Credits: Amit Soyru
PANAJI
After at least two official letters from the Traffic Department, the Public Works Department (PWD) has finally started steps to remove the long-defunct AI-driven traffic management system at Merces junction.
PWD’s Superintending Engineer Pradeep Gaude has directed the Executive Engineer, Works Division VII (NH), to take down the system by July 4. This decision follows the District Road Safety Committee (North) meeting held on June 30. “...It was instructed to the undersigned (Superintending Engineer) to issue instructions to EE WD VIII to dismantle the traffic signal near Merces junction, which is creating confusion due to its incorrect positioning. The same is to be implemented by July 4, 2025,” the communiqué stated.
The AI-powered system, installed in March 2023 to improve traffic management and road safety, has not worked for over 18 months. Despite repeated requests from the Traffic Department, the system, installed by Beltech AI under the Integrated Traffic Management Project, continued to malfunction with no steps taken to remove it until now.
The Goan had reported on the issue several times. Sources confirmed that the Traffic Department had written twice to the PWD and to Beltech AI, asking them to remove the faulty system. The department had raised concerns about the system’s failures, calling it a serious obstacle to smooth traffic flow at the busy junction.
The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) had also proposed replacing the system with a new set of traffic signals, but this plan still awaits approval.
Under the original project, the PWD had identified 92 locations for AI-enabled systems to detect traffic violations, generate automated challans, provide surveillance, and analyse traffic flow.
Until six months ago, Beltech’s system reportedly detected over 56,000 traffic violations between March 2023 and April 2024, with estimated fines of over Rs 5 crore. However, these fines were not collected as no challans were issued.
