PANAJI
More than three months after the much-publicised artificial intelligence traffic enforcement program missed its original deadline, the State government is preparing to finally activate the first phase of the project, with AI-powered cameras expected to begin issuing electronic challans at 26 junctions across Goa from June 10.
The government is now moving ahead with a wider first-phase deployment than originally envisioned, nearly doubling the number of operational sites from the 14 junctions that were expected to go live earlier this year.
Sources said that the schedule was derailed by a series of technical and other issues that surfaced during testing, forcing authorities to halt implementation and revisit the system before allowing it to go live.
“Now all certifications, testing and validation exercises have been completed. The project is ready for commissioning," the source told The Goan, adding that 25-26 locations are expected to become operational in the first phase beginning June 10.
This first batch spans major traffic corridors in North and South Goa, including Merces, Verna, Margao, Nuvem, Vasco, Betalbatim, Colva, Benaulim, Curchorem and Mapusa.
Among the junctions selected are Merces, Birla Cross in Verna, Bellem, Old Market, Fatorda, Tata Showroom - Nuvem, Goa Ceramics - Nuvem, Gorvotti, Nuvem Bypass, Arlem, Bolshe Circle, Missing Link at Loutolim, Navelim, Power House Circle - Margao, Munj Vihar Circle; Titan, IFB, Ravi Café – all at Verna; VP Chicalim, Betalbatim, Green House at Colva, Maria Hall at Benaulim, Ambedkar Circle at Curchorem, and Mapusa’s Tara Bastora, Akoi Village and Duler.
Under the program, cameras equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology and artificial intelligence will monitor traffic violations round the clock and automatically generate challans under Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act.
The system is expected to detect offences including signal jumping, riding without helmets, triple-seat riding on two-wheelers, number plate violations and other traffic infractions identified through image analytics.
“The locations form part of a much larger plan to eventually cover 92 sites across Goa under a public-private partnership model being executed by the Public Works Department under the Road Safety Authority,” the source revealed.
In February, government officials had indicated that the first phase would become operational by month-end. However, during trial runs, the system reportedly generated a series of questionable challans, exposing flaws in the software's interpretation of vehicle records.
One of the most serious concerns involved newly purchased vehicles being flagged for not possessing Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates.
Under existing rules, new vehicles are exempt from obtaining a PUC certificate during the first year after registration. Yet test challans were allegedly being generated against such vehicles, prompting officials to intervene.
Meanwhile, according to official project documents, the system is expected to support traffic flow optimization through adaptive signal control, predictive analytics and vehicle classification. “We also hope that the data generated by the cameras will assist in urban planning, road design and environmental assessments. The inclusion of Merces among the first locations is especially significant,” the source added.
