Hopping signals or using phones when cops aren’t there? You’re still going to get instant-fined, thanks to Bengaluru’s new AI cameras

If you've ever found yourself sheepishly glancing around after cutting a red light or using your phone while driving, only to relax because "no cops in sight," think again! In Bengaluru, the traffic police have gone tech-savvy, and they're now leveraging AI to keep an eye on you – whether or not there’s an officer standing by.

Bengaluru’s AI revolution in traffic enforcement

Bengaluru, the tech hub of India, has pioneered the use of AI-based enforcement in its bustling streets. "At present, we use AI-based cameras to enforce seven violations," said MN Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru City Traffic) in an interview with Moneycontrol. These violations include overspeeding, using mobile phones while driving, not wearing seat belts, riding without helmets, triple riding on two-wheelers, red-light jumping, and stop-line violations. But it doesn't stop there!

The city is expanding this AI-driven system to detect 13 different traffic violations — up from the existing seven. Among the new additions are wrong-side driving, illegal number plates, overloaded goods vehicles, broken or folded door mirrors, and illegal parking. Bengaluru’s streets are about to get even more monitored, and the number of fines is expected to rise.
Already, 97% of traffic violations in Bengaluru in 2023 were caught through this contactless mode. With 330 AI-powered cameras watching over 50 junctions, the city's roads are becoming some of the most tech-supervised in India. "We will soon expand to cover 13 types of violations," Anucheth added, hinting at an even more stringent road regime.

Eyes in the sky

With a road network stretching over 14,000 km, more than 12 million registered vehicles, and around 40,000 traffic intersections, Bengaluru’s streets can get chaotic. To tackle this, Bengaluru’s AI system is leaving nothing to chance. The AI can do more than just catch rule-breakers; it can even detect waterlogged areas, cattle on the road, potholes, and unattended objects, ensuring smoother traffic flow.

What’s more, these AI-based systems are equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and can process video feeds from multiple sources, including surveillance cameras, body-worn cameras, and even social media feeds. So, even if you're accidentally caught on a neighbour’s camera violating a traffic rule, you could still be fined.

“Instead of procuring additional cameras, we decided to obtain AI-based automatic violation detection licences to utilise our existing infrastructure for traffic enforcement and management," Anucheth explained. That means the city is becoming smarter without splurging on extra gadgets.

Expect more fines

In 2023 alone, Bengaluru Traffic Police booked nearly 90 lakh cases and collected a record Rs 185.1 crore in fines. With the expanded AI system, these numbers are expected to soar even higher. Commuters along major arterial roads such as the Electronics City Elevated Expressway, Mysuru Road to Goraguntepalya, and Bellary Road should be particularly mindful. Cameras on these routes have been instrumental in spotting violations like speeding and improper lane usage.
The introduction of AI is already having a significant impact on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, where 60 cameras caught more than 12,000 violations within just two weeks of installation. And the fines? They’re sent directly to your phone. "No violation can escape the hawk eyes of our powerful cameras," said Karnataka’s Additional Director General of Police, Alok Kumar, after catching a bus driver talking on his phone while driving.

Management, not just enforcement

But Bengaluru’s AI isn’t just catching violators — it’s also helping ease the flow of traffic in a majorly congested city. AI is playing a crucial role in optimising traffic signals to reduce congestion and manage traffic patterns. With its Automatic Traffic Counting and Classification (ATCC) feature, these AI cameras will help monitor the types of vehicles clogging up different junctions, offering better insights for road management.

To that end, Bengaluru has also introduced AI-powered traffic signals, which automatically adjust the timing of traffic lights based on real-time traffic conditions. This system, deployed across many important junctions in the city, monitors vehicle flow and helps reduce bottlenecks by adjusting traffic lights dynamically. In an ideal world, this will mean that there would be no more sitting at a red light when the road ahead is empty.

With over 9,000 cameras being installed across the city under the Safe City project and access to 4,600 body-worn cameras, Bengaluru’s traffic police are bringing in a new era of high-tech enforcement. Hopefully, this will help with better traffic management in the city — a problem that needs to be solved at the earliest.