Flyovers are not intelligent solutions

Sir,

It is startling to see Mysuru installing new signal lights based on outdated technology. Despite being projected as one of India’s leading smart cities, Mysuru continues to rely on fixed-time traffic lights that operate on pre-set cycles, irrespective of real-time vehicle movement.

These obsolete systems may have served their purpose decades ago, but today they contribute heavily to traffic congestion, fuel wastage and increased pollution levels.

In contrast, cities like Bengaluru have upgraded to Vehicle Actuated and Adaptive (VAC) traffic systems. These smart signals use sensors and cameras to detect vehicle density and automatically adjust signal timings.

The results are evident — Bengaluru Traffic Police reports show that adaptive signals at over 100 major junctions have reduced congestion and travel time by 25-30 percent, while also improving fuel efficiency and air quality.

A remarkable case study is Electronics City, one of Bengaluru’s busiest IT corridors. Despite its narrow roads and significant green cover, the area successfully tackled traffic snarls not by constructing flyovers, but by adopting intelligent traffic management systems.

Through VAC-based signals, synchronised coordination and real-time monitoring, Electronics City achieved smoother traffic flow and shorter waiting times — without harming the environment or spending crores on concrete infrastructure.

Mysuru, however, seems to be moving in the opposite direction — investing in flyovers while overlooking the root problem of outdated traffic control. Flyovers are not always the solution; they often shift congestion from one junction to another, while consuming valuable urban space and public funds. Before rushing into such projects, it would be wiser and more economical to modernise our traffic management technology.

With over 8.5 lakh registered vehicles and counting, Mysuru urgently needs to adopt adaptive signal systems, coordinated junction management and data-driven traffic planning. Such an approach will not only ease congestion but also reduce pollution, save fuel and improve the overall commuter experience.

A true smart city is not one that merely builds more roads and flyovers, but one that uses technology intelligently to make existing infrastructure more efficient. It is high time Mysuru embraced modern, vehicle-responsive signal systems and implemented the proven smart solutions already in place in Bengaluru and Electronics City.

– S.D. Vidyuth, Mysuru, 7.11.2025

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