AI-assisted traffic lights from Google will help fight jams and congestion in India

In bustling Indian metropolises like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata, traffic jams have long been a common woe for the public, causing significant inconvenience and environmental disruptions due to vehicle emissions. However, Google may have a solution in the works, and it’s already being tested in some major Indian cities.

According to a post by a user on X, Google’s Project Green Light has introduced new traffic lights in Bangalore as part of its initiative to enhance traffic flow at various intersections, ultimately reducing emissions from vehicles. Sahu also shared a video from Google providing a comprehensive explanation of the project.

Google AI to optimize traffic in Bangalore, Kolkata and Hyderabad

If you have been wondering too, what are all those new lights installed around Bangalore.

Well, it’s the Project Green Light, a Google Research initiative, which is helping cities improve traffic flow at… pic.twitter.com/5GJdfBvB79

— laurelsudeep (@laurelsudeep) October 17, 2023

According to the video, Project Green Light will leverage Google’s AI technology to curtail vehicle emissions in multiple cities. This will be accomplished by analyzing data from Google Maps to discern driving patterns in specific areas. Recommendations will then be formulated to optimize the coordination and timing of traffic lights accordingly.

Numerous users have commented on Sahu’s tweet, expressing curiosity about the new traffic lights in Bengaluru.

Googl’s Project Green Light
In an October 10 blog post, Google unveiled Project Green Light, which aims to enhance traffic flow and reduce overall emissions in cities.

“Google Research teams have been exploring the use of AI and driving trends from Google Maps to model intersections and traffic flow. We built an AI-based model of each intersection, including its structure, traffic patterns (such as patterns of starting and stopping), light scheduling, and how traffic and the light schedules interact, and then we also build a model of the interaction between traffic lights.

“Based on this model, we develop AI-based optimizations and then provide recommendations to city engineers via the Green Light interface. As an example, we might identify an opportunity to coordinate between intersections that are not yet synced and provide a recommendation around the timing of the traffic lights so that traffic flows more effectively along a stretch of road,” the blog post explains.

Google has also announced that some cities are already participating in the Project Green Light, and others are welcome to join.