Smart traffic signals for Kashmir Highway soon

Bids for the project were opened last week and it is expected to be completed in a month

ISLAMABAD: To ease the traffic congestion on the Kashmir Highway, the city authorities aim to replace existing interval-based traffic system with a more responsive, smart traffic signal system. Bids to install the new system have now been opened.

Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials on Sunday said that after fulfilling all formalities, the authority had issued tenders at the end of November and it has received bids in this regard which were opened last week.

Under the proposed programme, officials said that these signals come equipped with optical sensors which alter the intervals between the red and green signals based on the volume of traffic at the respective intersection.

These signals will process the visual input for the number of vehicles and adjust the signal timing accordingly without requiring any human intervention. In turn will help decrease the load on traffic police officials and wardens to manually control traffic, particularly during rush hour apart from ensuring an efficient commute for those using the highway.

CDA officials hope that the new system will help ensure the smooth and automated flow of traffic control on arguably the busiest section of the highway.

Initially, traffic signals currently installed on intersections from Sector G-7 to Sector G-11 on the Kashmir Highway will be replaced by the new smart signals. Particularly, the traffic signal at the busy intersection lying on Kashmir Highway at Seventh Avenue, Sector G-9, Sector G-10, Sector H-11 and Sector G-11 is being replaced.

Separately, officials said that the CDA has taken several steps in recent months to improve the flow of traffic in the city, including upgrading and expanding road infrastructure around the city but also introduced technology-based initiatives.

Officials added that the project is expected to be completed at a cost of Rs2.48 million and will be completed within a month. Hence work on installing the new smart signal system is expected to begin shortly.

CDA officials further said that they will be treating the installation of the smart signals on Kashmir Highway as a pilot. If proven to be a success, they will install the system on other key intersections and main avenues across the city in a phase-wise manner.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2019.