Come March, Bengaluru, India’s tech capital, will unveil an AI-powered "digital twin", a virtual model of the city designed to enhance traffic management and improve communication with citizens.
Bengaluru Traffic Police officials said that the city’s traffic digital twin will be launched by March.
"In this digital simulation model, we will input real-time data from the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), Safe City Project, Vehicle Actuated Control (VAC) signals, and other sources at traffic junctions. This will provide real-time traffic insights and help build a digital model of traffic conditions," Joint Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru Traffic) MN Anucheth told Moneycontrol.
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Once the real-time model is in place, the plan is to integrate data from Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), and app-based aggregators, he said .
"BMRCL has agreed, and we are in talks with BMTC. The idea is to shift the focus from traffic management to overall mobility," he added.
Anucheth said Bengaluru plans to scale up the digital twin project. “Out of the 14,000 km road network in Bengaluru, we have, so far, simulated 3,200 km, covering high-density corridors, arterial roads, and sub-arterial roads in the city.”
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Digital twins improve safety, reduce congestion, and enable data-driven decision-making.
"For instance, for the upcoming Ed Sheeran concert in Bengaluru, if we know how many tickets have been booked, we can advise Namma Metro to run more trains. Similarly, for the return journey, we can coordinate with BMTC to deploy more buses. This will improve overall mobility," Anucheth said.
The English singer is to perform in Bengaluru on February 8 and 9.
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Cities around the world are creating digital twins — virtual models updated with real-time data— to imprpve traffic flow and monitoring. This technology helps reduce commuting times and track vehicles.
Cities like New York, Los Angeles, Moscow, and Barcelona are already adopting digital twins as part of their urban planning. Digital twins also use AI and machine learning to predict traffic. For instance, they can simulate traffic seconds after an accident, recommend alternate routes for emergency vehicles.
Also, read: Bengaluru traffic police launches AI-powered ASTraM; to provide congestion alerts
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