Could Google Help Ease Bengaluru's Traffic Jam Nightmare? Karnataka Cops Think So
On Wednesday, the Karnataka capital became the first Indian city to partner with Google to optimise traffic light timings. Speed limits data shared by the traffic authorities will now be visible on Google Maps.
It is often said as a joke that a Bengaluru resident spends more time stuck in a traffic jam than in their home or office.
According to the 2021 TomTom Traffic Index, Bengaluru had a congestion level of 48 per cent and an average citizen lost 110 hours a year due to traffic.
BCCL
While there is no easy solution to end Bengaluru's traffic jams, the city's Traffic Police are joining hands with tech giant Google to reduce road congestion.
What the Traffic Police, Google partnership offers
On Wednesday, the Karnataka capital became the first Indian city to partner with Google to optimise traffic light timings.
Speed limits data shared by the traffic authorities will now be visible on Google Maps.
¡°This is helping the local traffic authority manage road congestion at key intersections and will eventually scale across the city. Google will further expand this to Kolkata and Hyderabad in partnership with local traffic authorities,¡± Google said in a statement.
BCCL
¡°Supporting the efforts of local traffic authorities to promote safe driving, Google Maps will now show speed limits data shared by the traffic authorities, starting with Bengaluru,¡± it added.
Will reduce signal wait time for commuters
¡°We are proud to partner with Google to use technology to help reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety for the people of Bengaluru. We are the first Indian city to have started a pilot with Google to optimize the traffic light configuration in Bengaluru to reduce signal wait time for commuters¡±, Dr. Ravikanthe Gowda, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru, said.
BCCL
¡°The revised plan by Google resulted in an average 20% wait time reduction per driver going through the pilot intersection during the day. We are excited by the positive impact this can have on reducing traffic congestion, road rage, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions¡±, he added.
More cities to join hands with Google
Google has also teamed up with traffic authorities and aggregators to assist citizens in eight Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad, in avoiding congested zones by providing information on road closures and incidents.
BCCL
Google will provide air quality information
Additionally, Google announced its collaboration with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to provide air quality information.
This information can be accessed by tapping the 'Layers' button at the top right in their Maps app and selecting the 'Air Quality' option.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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