After Merces junction gets AI traffic management, Goa CM Pramod Sawant promises 16 more smart signals

PANAJI: An AI-enabled traffic management system was launched at Merces junction on Wednesday. Capable of helping state authorities with security, signal management, and issue of challans, the technology will automatically detect violations and dispatch an e-challan to the violator's house.
"This is the first signal in Goa that has AI intelligence," said chief minister Pramod Sawant.He said that the system will also benefit traffic police to monitor traffic and help with security.
"Altogether, there will be 16 smart signals in Goa. The aim of this is not to issue challans, but to manage traffic in Goa. It will be possible to bring down major accident deaths, especially considering there are more than 365 deaths annually, with at least 1-2 fatal accidents taking place per day," he said.

The system will also help in keeping track of the movement of antisocial elements. "In future, if we need to make any arrests, it can be done using AI," Sawant said.
The system has been developed and implemented by Beltech AI, and has been deployed on a pilot basis at the Merces junction on PPP basis. "Goa shall expand the scope of implementation on PPP basis by collaborating with private investment," he said. "The signals have been installed at no cost to the state government. Rs 40 lakh has been invested by the company, and revenue earned will be shared 70:30."
Sawant also warned people against breaking the rules or taking the law in their own hands. "To help curb accidents in the state, we can bring in infrastructure, but the people must also follow the law and rules of Goa to maintain discipline on its roads," he said.
Transport minister Mauvin Godinho said that while the implementation of the system has begun, the process of issuing challans will be done by April 15.
"There will not be any human error or scope for RTO or traffic police to be biased towards anyone. There will be real-time photographs that someone has violated traffic rules. In case of issues, corrections will be made in the technology," he said.
PWD minister Nilesh Cabral said that AI tech is much more advanced that normal technology. "Within the next 1.5 years, more locations will be taken up for AI monitoring of roads under the PPP model. Even the signals installed under the Smart City Mission will be integrated into this system," he said.