City traffic is not merely an engineering problem; it is a living, shifting dialogue between people, infrastructure, and technology. When that dialogue falters, the consequences are felt everywhere—in wasted hours, lost fuel, mounting emissions, and the frayed tempers of millions stuck in jams that stretch endlessly through India’s urban sprawl. For a country where congestion costs billions in lost productivity each year, the search for smarter, data-driven mobility solutions has become urgent.

The recent collaboration between Google and the Gurugram Traffic Police marks a turning point in how Indian cities might approach the challenge. In November 2025, the two launched a system that brings real-time alerts for speed limits, accident-prone zones, and traffic hazards directly to Google Maps users. The feature, which currently covers 129 major roads with plans to expand to over 200, allows drivers to make safer, more informed choices and gives the administration a live feedback loop to prioritise enforcement and infrastructure fixes. For a city that has recorded hundreds of road fatalities in recent years, this kind of digital nudge is more than just technological flair – it’s a potential lifesaver. By giving drivers early warnings about accident-prone stretches, the system helps prevent high-speed collisions and encourages responsible driving.

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At the same time, it allows traffic authorities to collect valuable data, spot trends, and identify problem areas that need attention. Gurugram’s experiment is local in scope but global in implication, hinting at how artificial intelligence (AI) and data can reshape the urban traffic ecosystem. Behind the initiative lies Google’s broader ecosystem of tools, from Google Maps and Waze for Cities to Project Green Light, an AI-based signal optimisation program. These platforms represent a new phase of traffic management – one that shifts from static control to dynamic, data-informed coordination.

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They rely on anonymised, crowdsourced GPS data from millions of devices to create a continuously updated picture of how cities move. This live layer of intelligence allows authorities to detect bottlenecks, accidents, and slowdowns in real time, replacing outdated manual surveys with precise, responsive management. Equally transformative is the ability to communicate directly with drivers. Platforms such as Waze for Cities allow........

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