Margao: The Transport Department has announced plans to install 92 AI-based traffic signals and cameras in the first phase of its traffic enforcement programme in the state.
“To ensure technology and evidence-based enforcement by the transport department along with PWD, we have taken up the project to install AI-based traffic signals and cameras across the state. In stage one, we will be installing it in 92 locations and I am sure there will be a lot more discipline,” said director of Transport Pravimal Abhishek at a programme held at VVM’s Govind Ramnath Kare College of Law in Margao to mark National Road Safety Month, which concludes on January 31.
He said that every kind of violation, whether triple seat riding, no seatbelt, number plate violations, could be detected by this technology.
In a bid to improve public transport, he said proposals for an additional fleet have also been placed.
“KTCL is an important component in promoting road safety and they are putting in a lot of efforts to modernise their fleets. Recently, along with the urban development department, there was a proposal submitted to procure more than 200 electric vehicles to help the public transport system.”
Abhishek said that although there was a reduction of around 15 to 16 per cent in accident cases, much more needed to be done. “Most accidents are caused due to human error, including not driving properly and not following the rules. With strengthened enforcement that can work 24×7 and without the deployment of police all throughout the day some discipline can be brought about,” he said.
Addressing students
of the law college, the director encouraged them to study the Goa Road Safety Policy 2025 and submit suggestions.
“Road safety is a collective responsibility of the government and society. We have taken several approaches in the policy. The first component is roads and ensuring they are engineered properly, with regular road audits conducted and black spots identified. The second is vehicles on the road, for which the policy envisions a technology-based system where, in the coming year, we aim to have automated testing stations in the state. The third is to set up regional- and district-level driving training centres,” Abhishek said.
Also present at the event were Additional Director of Transport (South) Rajesh Naik, Additional Director of Transport (North) Balchandra Sawant, and SP, Traffic Cell, Rajendra Prabhudesai, along with college staff, faculty and students.
