A smart traffic monitoring and operation centre, the first of its kind in Việt Nam, was opened on Monday by the Saigon River Tunnel Management Centre.

A smart traffic operation centre, the first of its kind in Viet Nam, opened on February 18 to monitor traffic congestion, reducing the need for on-site traffic police. – Photo tuoitre.vn

After a year of upgrading of the existing traffic control system, the system now has 762 cameras for traffic monitoring, 136 cameras for counting vehicles, and 216 traffic-light control boxes on 78 main streets, including roads to Tân Sơn Nhất Airport and seaports in districts 2 and 9.

Lê Minh Triết, director of the management centre, said the centre staff would be able to control the timing of the traffic lights and notify police in case of accidents.

In addition, as many as 70 electronic information boards, an online website and an app keep drivers informed of traffic conditions. The website has information about the locations of parking spaces, gas station and public toilets.

The new centre is part of the first phase of a smart traffic operation system project, which costs VNĐ230 billion (US$9.89 million). The second phase, which will end next year, is expected to cost about $250 million and will cover the rest of the city.

The project is part of the city’s 2016-20 programme to reduce the number of accidents and traffic congestion. – VNS