Bengaluru: Motorists in the city can now check the traffic signal countdown at upcoming junctions directly on their mobile phones. The Bengaluru traffic police, in collaboration with the navigation app Mappls, have introduced a new real-time signal timer feature — the first of its kind in India.
A first in India’s traffic management
The new feature integrates live signal data from 169 junctions equipped with vehicle actuated control (VAC) systems. These signals use artificial intelligence to adjust their durations based on real-time traffic conditions. With the Mappls integration, commuters can now view the same countdown displayed on traffic poles right on their phone screens.
“As the real traffic signal counts down, you see the same on the map inside the Mappls app. Magical and helpful,” said Rohan Verma, director of MapmyIndia, the company behind Mappls, in a post on X.
In addition to route and congestion information, the app now shows waiting times above the vehicle cursor. This allows drivers to plan their approach to junctions more effectively, potentially reducing sudden braking and aggressive lane changes.
Tackling unpredictable wait times
The initiative aims to address one of the most common complaints against the VAC system — unpredictable waiting times at signals. Officials said that making timers visible beyond each junction would help commuters anticipate delays more accurately and improve road discipline.
“This technology works when signals operate in VAC mode. Sometimes, when they are manually controlled, this information will not be available,” a senior traffic police officer explained. The officer added that countdown data for more distant junctions would soon be available, allowing smoother route planning across the city.
Experts call for synchronised signals
Mobility experts have welcomed the step as a positive use of technology but emphasised that the focus should now shift to signal coordination.
“What they should focus on is a better signal synchronisation system so that when a motorist starts from one signal, they reach the next just as it turns green,” said Prof Ashish Verma, convenor of the Sustainable Mobility Lab at the Indian Institute of Science. “For example, MG Road has a series of signals — if they are coordinated, vehicles can move smoothly without unnecessary stops. You can create all kinds of technology, but it should add value to the existing system.”
Towards smarter, data-driven traffic management
Officials from the Bengaluru traffic police department said that integrating technology with navigation apps is part of a larger push to make urban mobility more data-driven. By using AI-based controls, real-time sensors, and live mapping tools, the department hopes to eventually develop a fully adaptive traffic control network.
For now, the Mappls integration is a small but meaningful step toward making daily commutes more predictable. As the feature expands to cover more junctions, drivers across Bengaluru could soon experience fewer surprises — and fewer red-light frustrations — on their regular routes.