To ease congestion and safeguard commuters during sweltering afternoons, Lucknow’s Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) has reactivated flash mode at 20 major intersections, including Kapoorthala, Puraniya, and Kathauta. Every day between 1 PM and 4 PM, traffic signals at these junctions switch to blinking yellow, allowing vehicles to move cautiously while avoiding long idle times under the sun.

This Smart City initiative, part of Lucknow’s Heat Action Plan, and managed under the Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS), aims to ease traffic flow and protect commuters from heat-related stress, said DCP (Traffic) Kamlesh Dixit.

Flash mode is currently operational at key intersections including Kapoorthala, Puraniya, Ambedkar Park, Sapru Marg, Kathauta, and Manoj Pandey Chauraha, among others. Using real-time data from smart cameras and sensors, the system intelligently toggles between flashing and standard signals based on traffic density. The system has been fine-tuned with public input and traffic analyses.

First launched in 2024, it has been brought back this year to support smoother movement during peak afternoon hours and reduce commuter exposure to extreme heat. Officials note that more junctions may be included as needed.