Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Fuad Hashim Rabbani implemented the pilot project of an Artificial Intelligence-based radar system for traffic control, on Wednesday.
This is the first AI-based traffic control system in South Punjab, installed on Old Bahawalpur Road. Director General MDA Rana Saleem Ahmed Khan, Director Engineering Rana Waseem, and Director Transport Rao Zaka were also existed there.
The additional chief secretary, addressing the event, highly underscored the vitality of modern technology and artificial intelligence in driving progress throughout all fields, claiming that “without embracing such advancements, we would lag and lose ground”.
He claimed that the practical application of artificial intelligence had already commenced in various sectors all over the South Punjab. He said that after the successful execution of the pilot project, the AI-based radar system would be expanded to other roads for traffic control management. Additionally, public awareness campaigns on road safety are anticipated to be launched.
The Bahawalpur Development Authority had also been instructed and given the task of adopting and aligning with the system, he added. MDA Director General Rana Saleem Ahmed Khan, while updating the ACS South Punjab, explained that the AI radar system monitors the speed of vehicles on the road.
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Vehicles driving within the speed limit would have their speed displayed in green on the screen, while those exceeding the speed limit would be featured in red. He further claimed that the system is capable of working 24/7 with a backup and is powered by solar panels.
He also claimed that in the second phase, cameras would be embedded into the traffic system, and the system is anticipated to be assigned to the traffic police. It was also cited in the update that after the success of the pilot project, the system is expected to be installed on 21 roads under the authority of the MDA.
This initiative of installing AI Power Radar System for traffic management in South Punjab will pose various positive impacts.
- Firstly, the AI radar system is capable of monitoring vehicle speeds in real-time, finding speed violations by marking them in red light.
- Secondly, by checking the speed limits, and by discouraging reckless driving, this system is expected to minimize the likelihood or occurrence of accidents. The visual alerts combined with the precise tracking of the radar highly encourage safe driving practices, which will lead to lower accident rates on major roads in southern Punjab.
- Thirdly, the solar-powered operation is created to make the radar system environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient, minimizing dependency on conventional power sources. The built-in backup of the system guarantees continuous function, adding reliability even during power outages or weather-related disruptions.
- Fourthly, the planned public awareness campaign is expected to educate the public on the advantages of safe driving and the importance of sticking to traffic regulations, which is expected to create a culture of road safety amongst motorists in the region.
- Fifthly, with further integration such as the incorporation of cameras in phase 2, the radar system is expected to allow authorities like MDA and the traffic police to maintain an even higher standard of traffic control. This structured phase-out roll-out along with oversight by the Bahawalpur Development Authority is expected to guarantee smooth and widespread adoption across 21 roads all across south Punjab.