Gurgaon: The next time you stop at the traffic signal at Sohna Chowk, don’t be surprised if a digital screen tells you more than when the lights will change. It may also reveal how many traffic challans your vehicle has pending and how much you owe.In Haryana’s first such initiative, traffic cops in the city have installed an AI-powered smart traffic warning screen at the key junction that scans every passing vehicle in real time and instantly displays its registration number, the number of unpaid challans and the total amount due. The system, currently on trial, is designed to turn technology into a gentle but public nudge for habitual violators to clear their dues before enforcement catches up with them.Installed a few metres from the police commissioner’s office, the digital screen uses artificial intelligence to read vehicle registration numbers and fetch data from the traffic database within seconds. It can also identify vehicles running with expired pollution certificates, prompting owners to renew them before inviting further penalties.“The initiative is still in the testing phase. We will review its performance and take further steps accordingly,” DCP (traffic) Prateek Gaholot said.For traffic police, the screen addresses one of the most common excuses heard during enforcement drives — motorists claiming they were unaware of pending challans. Now, as a vehicle approaches the junction or waits at the signal, its unpaid violations can appear on the display almost instantly and stay on the screen for a few seconds, making it much harder to ignore outstanding penalties.Officials, however, said the project is not merely about recovering fines. They insisted it is a behavioural intervention aimed at improving compliance with traffic rules.“Our objective goes far beyond collecting challans. The ultimate aim is to save lives and reduce road fatalities. Technology-driven measures like this encourage people to follow traffic rules, maintain valid documents and become more responsible on the road. Better compliance ultimately means safer roads,” a traffic police officer said.The initiative complements an intensified enforcement campaign launched over recent months against habitual offenders. During special drives, police have impounded several two-wheelers and four-wheelers carrying unpaid challans worth lakhs of rupees. In some cases, the outstanding amount exceeded Rs 5 lakh, exposing repeated violations over long periods.Police believe the warning screen could improve voluntary compliance by reminding motorists about pending dues before stricter enforcement becomes necessary. At the same time, it is expected to encourage vehicle owners to keep mandatory documents, including PUC certificates, updated.If the pilot proves successful, traffic cops plan to install similar AI-powered warning screens at other major intersections, such as Rajiv Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, IFFCO Chowk, MG Road, Golf Course Road and Southern Peripheral Road. Officials said the long-term vision is to expand the technology across the city and eventually other parts of Haryana, making AI a key tool for traffic enforcement, improving compliance and, ultimately, reducing accidents on roads.
