Smart Traffic System Faces Repeated Glitches, Sparks Frustration Among Pune Commuters
Pune : Traffic congestion at Mundhwa Chowk worries residents
Pune’s much-touted Adaptive Traffic Management System (ATMS), a high-tech solution aimed at alleviating the city’s notorious traffic congestion, stumbled for the third consecutive day, leaving citizens questioning its effectiveness. The system, which was implemented at 85 major junctions in the city at a cost of Rs 100 crore, suffered a temporary malfunction, according to authorities.
Over the weekend, several key areas, including Satara Road, Swargate, Dandekar Bridge, Parvati, and Maharshi Nagar, experienced severe traffic disruptions due to the malfunctioning ATMS. The ambitious project, spearheaded by the Pune Smart City Development Corporation Limited (PSCDCL), aimed to modernize traffic signals at 125 junctions in its initial phase, with 85 already equipped with the system.
The ATMS relies on sensor-equipped signals to dynamically adjust signal timings, targeting traffic bottlenecks and streamlining vehicular flow. Additionally, proponents touted the system as a means to reduce the need for a large number of traffic police officers to manage intersections. However, the recent glitches have exposed vulnerabilities in its operation.
A senior official from Smart City Office said that the commissioning process and assured citizens that the integration of the systems would be completed in the coming days. He explained that the recent malfunction was a result of patch network installation work carried out by the team.
The fallout from the ATMS failure was evident, as major thoroughfares such as Shastri Road, Dandekar Bridge, Saneguruji Nagar, Sarasbagh, Parvati, Tilak Road, Swargate, Shivdarshan, Sahkar Nagar, and Satara Road were all clogged with traffic. Two-wheelers and four-wheelers alike faced significant delays, with commutes stretching to over two hours in some cases.
Despite the system’s potential benefits, the recent glitches have raised questions about its reliability. The ATMS had initially led to a reduction in the number of traffic police personnel required at intersections, but the recent failures necessitated a redeployment of officers to manage the chaotic traffic.
The situation was exacerbated by other factors, such as ongoing festivals, processions, and VVIP movements. Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Pune on Saturday also contributed to traffic diversions and further compounded the congestion.
Hopes were high that the ATMS would offer respite from Pune’s traffic woes, but the recent series of malfunctions has left commuters skeptical about its ability to deliver on its promises. As the PSCDCL was set to commission ‘smart signaling’ in the near future, the incident has raised concerns about the city’s readiness for such advanced technologies. Commuters are now left wondering whether relief from Pune’s traffic snarls will ever be realized.
