The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was the first civic body in the country to launch the revolutionary initiative of 'smart traffic signal' in 2008 which change from red-amber-green depending on the traffic flow in any direction, an official said here on Friday.

The plan to convert the entire traffic signal system in the city comprising 335 'conventional signals', and another 166 'flashing beacon lights' to smart signals is underway at a fast pace and will be implemented soon, the BMC official said.

"The smart signals remain green for longer duration in the direction in which there is heavy traffic to enable faster clearance of vehicles and prevent traffic snarls," said the official.

Of the network of 590 signals on roads and junctions, the smart signals are working very well at 255 locations since 2008, and have been fitted with sophisticated automatic equipment and a majority are the long-lasting LED lights which have resulted in significant savings in electricity bills.

The initiative to install Adaptive Road Traffic Signal System or smart signals was launched in 2008 with the first one at Girgaum, near the Harkisondas Hospital junction in south Mumbai, under the Mumbai Area Traffic Control Project (MATCP).

The equipment includes Vehicle Detection Camera or CCTVs installed at junctions which monitor and count the number of vehicles proceeding to a particular direction and provide live feeds or computer feeds where the relevant software analyses the data to keep the signals 'green' for a longer period depending on the traffic flow.

The BMC installed the smart signals as per traffic department norms and covers the maintenance and running costs in collaboration with the Mumbai Traffic Police.

The entire smart signal network is being monitored at the Traffic Police Headquarters, Worli.

An important aspect is that information about breakdown of any particular signal or the complementary equipment is relayed directly to the traffic police headquarters enabling quick repairs to prevent traffic jams.