Too good to be true? The system has been designed to measure the intensity of traffic at intersections. It automatically changes the signals, and reduces waiting time.

According to the Traffic Police, the system will have a favourable impact on the amount of time a vehicle has to wait at an intersection. Vehicles will no longer have to wait at the red light for a long time even when there is no flow of traffic from the other side. The sensors will trigger changes in the signal depending on the volume of traffic.

For instance, the intensity of traffic going towards Connaught Place will be higher in the morning . Those rushing to office in the morning will no longer waste time waiting for the green signal even though there may not be many cars leaving Connaught Place on the other side.

Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Kanwaljit Deol said : ``Sensors will have to be installed beneath roads which will be sensitive to the intensity of traffic at crossings. The figures are then passed to a mother computer.''``The main computer will subsequently send the message back to a controller, also installed at the intersection, which will change the signal to green or red accordingly. The entire process will take seconds.''

The pilot project will involve installing censors at 47 major intersections in the Central Business District with Connaught Place as its centre. Other important intersections that have been selected for installation, include Tilak Bridge and the Krishi Bhawan Roundabout. The main computer will collect data, process and flash it back to the controller installed at Teen Murti Lines. The department has already fixed a deal with UK-based Peek, that specialises in manufacturing hi-tech traffic equipment, to provide sensors and other equipment for an estimated Rs 4.5 crore.

A six-member team of the Traffic Police flew to London on May 31 -- where the system has been operational for quite some time now. They were trained to handle the Computerised Area Traffic Control Project (CATCP). To implement the system, a Traffic Police team comprising three assistant commissioners, two inspectors and a sub-inspector, will put their heads together after their return from London.

The ACPs and an inspector are learning the intricacies of computerisation and the rest are receiving training in traffic engineering. Once back, they will receive training in signal controlling by a Mumbai-based company.

Former DCP (Traffic) Mukund Upadhyaye is positive: ``Earlier projects might not have been successful... For this one, we are depending solely on computers and human expertise. No red tape involved.''

In fact, a similar and similar gadget, known as Vehicle Actuated Traffic, is in use at the Rangpuri crossing on way to the Indira Gandhi International airport.