Motorists confused as AI-operated traffic signal at Merces flashes only yellow-amber light

PANJIM: As the saying goes, you can fool some people sometime, all people sometimes, but not all people all the time.

But leave that aside. The biggest confusion with the AI assisted traffic management system at Merces junction is whether it is “fully operational” or just “operational”. The colour of the truth in this case is not black and white, but yellow. This is why.

Confusion prevails at the Merces junction with the first Artificial Intelligence-operated traffic signal and e-Challan System flashing only the yellow amber light. Beltech AI, the company that developed the AI and installed the traffic signal and e-Challan system, and the traffic police appear not to be in sync.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the AI-operated traffic signal and e-Challan system with much fanfare on March 15. 

The traffic signals became operational immediately and it was informed that the issuance of e-challans would begin on March 20.  However, if we go by the version of Beltech AI they are awaiting instructions from the Goa Police to make it “fully operational” while the traffic police claim that at least the traffic signals are “operational” at the moment.

On Sunday when O Heraldo visited the junction, it was observed that only yellow amber light was flashing while other lights were off, leading to confusion among the motorists.

“We are awaiting instructions from the Goa Police to make it fully operational. At present as asked by the police we have only flashed yellow amber light. Police have told us to wait till they create awareness about Artificial Intelligence-operated traffic signals and e-Challan System amongst the public,” Agastya B Chief Executive Officer of Beltech AI said.

“The entire system is ready and we can make it fully operational at a click of a button, just as the Chief Minister did during the launch function. AI-driven traffic signals with the e-Challan System will be made operational together consisting of three colours: Red, Yellow, and Green lights on the signal,” he added.

The Chief Executive Officer of Beltech AI, however, didn’t disclose the name of the police officer, who asked the company to wait for the instructions to make the signals operational.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Traffic Cell, Bossuet Silva said, “To my knowledge the signal at Merces junction is operational. The system installed is AI-based; you must have passed through that junction when there is extremely less flow of traffic. When there is less or no traffic the AI senses it and an amber light flashes, which alerts motorists to slow down and proceed with caution.”    

A senior police officer on the condition of anonymity informed that the traffic signal at Merces junction was operational and due to some technical issue with the timer, only yellow amber light had been flashing and added that it was being addressed by the concerned till late Sunday evening.