Now Pune Police to Study London, Sydney Traffic Systems to Ease City Congestion

Pune, 14th May 2025: A potential solution to Pune’s mounting traffic woes could lie in adopting the traffic management models of global cities like London and Sydney. The Pune Police administration is preparing to address the city’s deteriorating traffic system by sending a delegation of senior officers (DCP and above) on a study tour to these cities to explore their advanced technologies, including the Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS).

This proposal was discussed in a recent meeting at the Pune Police Commissioner’s Office, where it was decided that a formal request would be sent to the Maharashtra Home Department to approve the officers’ visit. The aim is for these officers to gain insight into the traffic management systems used in cities like London and Sydney and adapt those strategies to Pune’s growing urban needs.

Pune, one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the country, faces significant traffic challenges. The city’s expansion, fueled by the IT, education, and automobile industries, has led to an increase in both population and the number of vehicles. However, the city’s traffic infrastructure has not kept pace with this growth. Problems such as chaotic traffic signals, violations of traffic rules, inadequate parking, illegal parking, and severe congestion during peak hours plague major areas like Koregaon Park, Baner, Hinjawadi, Swargate, Nalasopara, and Katraj.

A recent survey by Pune Police revealed that over 30% of the city’s traffic issues are caused by improper parking, 25% are due to imbalanced signal timings, and the remainder stems from poor road design and lack of monitoring.

Understanding the ITMS System

The Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) is a technological solution that integrates traffic lights, cameras, speed detectors, sensors, and a central control unit to manage traffic in real time. The ITMS system not only improves traffic flow but also generates automatic challans for violations such as jumping red signals, overspeeding, wrong-way driving, and not wearing helmets. Under this system, traffic load is analyzed zone-wise, allowing signal timings to be adjusted automatically, reducing congestion and maintaining smooth vehicle speeds.

How This Model Can Benefit Pune

Pune can draw significant lessons from the traffic management models implemented in London and Sydney, particularly in terms of using sensor-based signals, traffic cameras, and automated challan systems. These measures could go a long way in addressing the city’s traffic problems. Furthermore, providing citizens with real-time traffic updates, parking slot information, and the status of public transport through mobile apps could encourage a shift from private vehicles to public transport, reducing overall congestion.

London’s Traffic Management System

London is widely regarded as having one of the most efficient traffic systems in the world. One of its key features is the congestion charging zone, which charges vehicles entering certain parts of the city during peak times. This helps to reduce unnecessary traffic and encourages the use of alternative transportation. The city’s transport system is highly coordinated, integrating underground, overground, cycle tracks, pedestrian streets, and traffic sensors.

The London Traffic Control Centre uses real-time data to monitor and manage road conditions, and many traffic lights are equipped with auto-sensing technology that adjusts signal timings based on traffic flow. One of the standout features of London’s system is the SCOOT (Split Cycle and Offset Optimization Technique), a modern traffic control system used in busy cities. SCOOT controls traffic signal timings by continuously analyzing traffic conditions and adjusting accordingly to ensure smoother traffic flow.

Key Features of SCOOT:

• Controls traffic signal cycle times and offsets to minimize interruptions.
• Scans traffic conditions every second and adjusts signals in real time.
• Reduces congestion and ensures balanced traffic flow.

Sydney’s Smart Traffic System

Sydney’s advanced traffic system, SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System), is another model that could be highly beneficial for Pune. SCATS is an adaptive signal system that controls traffic lights based on real-time traffic data. In Sydney, traffic cameras, flow sensors, and vehicle tracking systems are interconnected, creating a seamless integration of the entire transport system.

The system automatically adjusts traffic light timings based on real-time traffic pressure and gives priority to emergency vehicles. SCATS is particularly useful in cities where traffic flow is constantly changing, making it an ideal model for Pune, where road conditions can vary drastically.

Key Features of SCATS:

• Automatically adjusts signal timings based on traffic volume.
• Prioritizes ‘green signals’ at heavily congested locations.
• Improves traffic flow, saving time for commuters.
• Gives priority to emergency vehicles during peak hours.

What’s Next for Pune?

By adopting technologies such as ITMS, sensor-based signals, and automated challan generation, Pune could significantly improve its traffic management system. Learning from the best practices of cities like London and Sydney will help the city address its traffic challenges and create a more organized and efficient urban transportation network.