ITMS falls short in Guwahati Due to a lack of interdepartmental coordination
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The morning rush at Hatigaon is a familiar sight. Vehicles jostling for space, impatient honking reverberating in the air, and pedestrians weaving through the chaotic traffic. At the junction where the ITMS cameras are installed, nothing seems different. The signal light changes, but traffic violations happen right under the system’s watch. The promised automated enforcement? Nowhere in sight.
Residents and commuters have been left frustrated as the much-hyped Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS), launched in August 2022 under the Smart City project, has failed to bring any real change in traffic discipline; the system remains largely ineffective. Frustration is mounting among daily commuters and residents, who are questioning the project’s purpose and the government’s accountability in its execution.
For many residents, ITMS has been nothing more than an expensive decoration, failing to address the traffic chaos in the city. People who experience Guwahati’s traffic congestion daily are left wondering why such a system was even introduced if it does not work.
Talking to GPlus, Jugal Barua, a resident of Hatigaon said, “The ITMS in Hatigaon has never worked. I have been living here for years, and every day, I see traffic violations happening right under those cameras. If they don’t work, then what is the point of installing them? They are just wasting public money."
Echoing Barua, a daily commuter in Kahilipara said, “If the ITMS is not functioning, why is it even there? Traffic management is still as chaotic as ever. What is the government doing about it?”
At Beltola Tiniali, where ITMS was also introduced, another resident questioned the effectiveness of the initiative. “There are no rules being followed here. People jump signals, drive recklessly, and ITMS does nothing. Where is the system they promised us? If there is no progress, then why are we paying our taxes?” the resident asked.
Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL), the body responsible for implementing ITMS, admits there are challenges but blames a lack of interdepartmental coordination issues for the system’s inefficiency.
“Initially, we installed 62 ITMS units across various junctions. However, due to multiple challenges posed by different departments, we had to remove or dismantle several of them,” a GSCL official told GPlus.
The official further elaborated on the difficulties they face in ensuring ITMS functions properly. “For the ITMS to work effectively, all departments need to be aligned. There has to be proper coordination, but unfortunately, that has been missing,” he said.
One of the major issues affecting ITMS performance is the dependence on zebra crossings. “The system is designed to detect traffic movement based on zebra crossings. But if those crossings are not properly maintained, ITMS fails to function as intended,” he explained.
The official also pointed out how ongoing construction work in the city is another major hindrance. “Several highway projects are being carried out simultaneously. Due to this, we are not always given permission to set up ITMS properly,” he added.
When asked about non-functional areas, the GSCL official revealed that three major junctions—Lakhimi Nagar, SCERT Junction and Beltola Tiniali—currently have completely non-operational ITMS due to foundational damage and disruptions caused by other departments.
“In these locations, either the foundation of the system has been demolished, or essential cables and pipes have been damaged. This is not under our control, but it has affected ITMS functionality severely,” he stated.
However, the official insisted that ITMS is operational in most areas. “Right now, ITMS is active in 55 locations. However, six of the systems had to be dismantled, and two more are set to be removed due to ongoing infrastructural developments,” he added.
When asked about the future of ITMS in Guwahati, the GSCL official assured that work is underway to make the system fully functional. “Initially, ITMS was in the commissioning stage. Once we receive the required approvals, it will move into the ‘Go Live’ stage, and citizens will finally see its real benefits,” he said.
Despite the government’s push for a Smart City transformation, ITMS in Guwahati has struggled due to poor planning, lack of coordination between departments, and inadequate maintenance.
The project was expected to ease traffic congestion and bring order to the chaotic streets of the city. However, with several units being dismantled and some not functioning at all, it raises serious concerns about the efficiency of the initiative.
The lack of interdepartmental cooperation is a key factor in the project’s failure. The GSCL’s admission that various departments are not working together points to a deeper governance issue. Why were these challenges not anticipated during the planning stage? Why wasn’t a more comprehensive strategy developed to ensure smooth execution?
Another major issue is the city’s ongoing infrastructure work, which has directly impacted ITMS operations. Was there no prior assessment of how concurrent projects might interfere with ITMS? The lack of foresight is evident in the way dismantled systems are now being written off as unavoidable losses.
Guwahati’s ITMS was aimed as a groundbreaking step toward modernising traffic management.
However, the questions remain: Why was the project launched without a concrete plan for interdepartmental coordination? What are the authorities doing to ensure that ITMS doesn’t end up as another failed infrastructure investment? Will taxpayers ever see a return on the money spent on this project?
