Andhra Pradesh approves ₹99 crore AI traffic system for Visakhapatnam
The Andhra Pradesh government has approved funding for Project Sarthi, an AI-based traffic management system covering 101 junctions across Visakhapatnam. The project costs ₹99.19 crore and will deploy adaptive traffic signals, violation detection, and facial recognition at selected locations.
The state will fund ₹49.54 crore in capital costs. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) covers the remaining capital expenditure and five years of operations and maintenance-₹49.65 crore total. The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority will contribute an additional ₹20 crore.
What the system includes
Adaptive traffic control systems will operate at 101 junctions, automatically adjusting signal timing based on real-time vehicle movement. Violation detection systems at 90 junctions will identify red-light violations, wrong-way driving, helmet non-compliance, and triple-riding.
The project adds automatic number plate recognition, free-flow traffic monitoring at 14 locations, and facial recognition at 12 locations. Five junctions will receive pedestrian safety signals. The system integrates with police command-and-control operations.
How payment works
GVMC will establish a dedicated escrow account for Project Sarthi. Revenue from e-challans, traffic penalties, and enforcement collections deposits into this account. Payments to the contractor release only after milestone verification and performance confirmation.
This structure ties ongoing funding to system performance over the five-year operational period, shifting financial risk to the service provider rather than the municipality.
Proof of concept completed
Officials tested the facial recognition component at Satyam Junction in March, evaluating its ability to identify people wearing helmets, masks, caps, and goggles. The system also matched archived photographs with current images using AI.
The successful trial gave officials confidence in the system's reliability for policing and enforcement operations.
Why now
Traffic on major roads, beach corridors, BRTS routes, and National Highway 16 stretches has increased enough that the government determined a real-time management system was necessary. The adaptive signals will also create green corridors for emergency vehicles and VIP movement on critical routes including railway station road and BRTS corridors.
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