First phase of Adaptive Traffic Signal System at 100 junctions to be launched in Chennai next month

Signals at 100 junctions on arterial roads in the city have started adapting to traffic as the Chennai Smart City Limited and the Chennai Corporation are preparing to launch the first phase of the Adaptive Traffic Signal System next month.

“Adaptive signalling has been working well at junctions such as EVR Periyar Salai,” an official said.

Adaptive signalling gives priority-based signals after assessing traffic in each arm of the junction, allowing vehicles on congested roads to go first.

The traffic signals automatically adjust their green and red light timings based on vehicular flow. Instead of following fixed time cycles, these smart signals use sensors to detect vehicles and prolong the green signal when the traffic is heavy. This helps reduce waiting time and ensure smooth vehicular flow.

With the launch of the system next month, traffic congestion is expected to ease along corridors connecting Beach Railway Station in the north, Ambattur Estate Road and Copper Kitchen Junction in the west, Chennai Airport in the south-west and Thoraipakkam in the south.

“When signals get smarter, Chennai steps toward intelligent traffic management, which will make urban mobility efficient,” an official said.

“The idea is to clear the junction of vehicles in the most efficient manner and improve traffic flow. This is done in each junction. But when some junctions are linked together in a corridor, the software tries to synchronise traffic flow from one junction to another,” an official said.

The city is on the cusp of a major transformation in urban transport management, with the Chennai Intelligent Transport System (ITS) project entering its implementation phase this December.

Supported by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the initiative aims at creating a seamless, technology-driven traffic ecosystem across the Chennai Metropolitan Area.

The project, implemented by the Chennai Smart City Limited, is designed to address the city’s growing traffic congestion and improve the commuter experience. It includes two major components: the Traffic Information and Management System (TIMS) for the Greater Chennai Traffic Police, and the City Bus System for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation.

Under the TIMS, advanced technologies, including the Adaptive Traffic Signal System, are being deployed across the city to ensure smooth traffic flow and improved road safety.

Other elements include the Traffic Incident Detection System, Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier, Speed Limit Violation Detection, and Red-Light Violation Detection systems.

According to the project officials, the Adaptive Traffic Signal System has been installed at 56 junctions, and work is under way at the remaining 44. The goal is to complete the installations at 100 junctions by the end of this year.

Old traffic signal poles on GCC roads and other arterial roads are being removed, and commissioning tests carried out to evaluate the system’s performance.