Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) provide transport solutions by utilizing state-of-the-art information and telecommunications technologies. It applies sensing, analysis, control and communications technologies to ground transportation. It is an integrated system of people, roads and vehicles, designed to significantly contribute to improve road safety, efficiency and comfort as well as environmental conservation through realization of smoother traffic by relieving traffic congestion.

The rapidly increasing vehicle population in India, spurred by population boom and economic upturn lays a critical burden on traffic management in urban areas. Thus, there is a need to deploy ITS in order to:

1. Improve road safety and security for all users. For ex- Video Traffic Management using CCTV to provide information for traffic and incident management
2. Address increasing congestion, which is raising travel times and industry costs. For ex-Traffic Signal Priority for Buses and Automatic Vehicle Tracking System focuses on analysis of data for adjusting transit schedules
3. Make available real-time information to commuters and agencies, helping in better travel planning and traffic management, saving man-hours and energy, thus providing a sustainable solution
4. Enhance the attractiveness of public transport
5. Reduce the environmental impacts of transport
6. Improve the competitiveness and performance of freight logistics systems

Issues being faced in deploying ITS in developing countries like India are following:

• Technology: electronic equipment such as sensors, detectors and communication devices etc. need to be developed; also developing a comprehensive data collection system would be a challenge..
• Modelling of Indian traffic – a proper understanding of the traffic system for building a reliable ITS systems.
• Supply Chain: seamless interconnectivity of the various branches of the transportation sector for effective, efficient and secure movement of goods and services.
• Energy and Sustainability: It should closely work with the energy sector in the promotion of fuel efficient transport policies and practices.
• Human Capital Development: a work force that can develop, manage and safely implement existing and emerging technologies
• Standards: establishing ITS standards applicable throughout the urban and rural sections of India
• Managing heterogeneity: designing an ITS that encompasses the heterogeneous vehicle population
• Collaboration: Setting up active interaction between academia, industries and governmental agencies
• Regulation: setting up rules and regulations of traffic that will aid in ITS implementation

While India has already made a foray into intelligent transport systems in organizing traffic, more extensive and urgent integration of advanced technology and concepts into mainstream traffic management is the need of the hour. This requires establishing aggressive, yet achievable, near and long- term performance goals for transportation systems.