AI traffic enforcement rollout deferred to July

Panaji: The State Road Safety Council, chaired by Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, on Tuesday deferred the rollout of AI-enabled traffic enforcement cameras across Goa, while confirming that the associated traffic signals will become operational next week.

The cameras, installed under the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) project, were originally scheduled to go live on June 16. However, the Council decided to first undertake a statewide awareness campaign to educate motorists on how the AI-based system works, the violations it will detect and the penalties it will impose.

“A major focus of the meeting was the phased implementation of AI-based traffic cameras, with 26 locations already identified and ready for rollout,” Godinho said after the meeting at the Secretariat in Porvorim.

Road safety activist Roland Martins said all line departments, including tourism, will participate in the awareness drive. Authorities are also expected to conduct trial runs and issue mock alerts before enforcement begins.

“The objective is to help road users understand the system before actual penalties are imposed. The rollout may now take place around July 1,” Martins said.

The Council also reviewed road safety measures and resolved to intensify action against overspeeding, illegal tinted glass and violations by rent-a-car operators. It further stressed compliance with Supreme Court directives on road safety and the removal of traffic obstructions.

Godinho said coordinated efforts to address black spots and accident-prone stretches had contributed to a 17% reduction in road accidents over the past two years.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Meaningful and lasting change can only be achieved through responsible road usage and public cooperation,” he said.