The Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), in collaboration with the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) is advancing road safety and traffic efficiency through AI-powered innovations as part of Bhutan’s Safe City initiatives. The flagship technology in this effort is the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, which is significantly transforming how authorities manage traffic and enforce road safety laws.
An official from DHI said that the first AI-powered traffic system will be implemented in Gelephu Mindfulness City, at Gelephu, Sarpang, and Thimphu, and the pilot sites will be operational by mid-August or earlier. “The phase one installation serves as a pilot project aimed at deploying the solution across a network of multiple cameras,” the official said, adding that following phase one, the system will expand into critical locations across various dzongkhags.
The development of the ANPR system is a significant step in Bhutan’s commitment to integrating innovative technologies into its public services. The system uses specialized cameras and AI software to detect and capture vehicle license plates in real time, enabling law enforcement agencies to monitor road activity, enforce traffic laws, and respond to incidents more efficiently. As Bhutan’s vehicle numbers continue to rise, this cutting-edge solution promises to address long-standing challenges in road safety and traffic management.
The project is already underway with the DRIVE team at DHI, which has already adopted a multi-pronged development strategy that includes hardware testing and AI model optimizations to ensure a cost-effective, accurate, and reliable solution.
Moreover, several rounds of proof-of-concept trials have already yielded promising results, with the ANPR model now offering faster inference speeds and impressive accuracy in capturing detailed images of moving vehicles. Additionally, infrared illumination has been added to improve plate recognition at night.
In the next phase, the team plans to expand the system to multiple pilot sites, gathering data at scale to refine the system’s performance further. Upcoming enhancements will also include speed detection, AI-driven analytics (such as vehicle type classification), and integration with the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority (BCTA) to provide even more value to the system.
With the significant increase in the number of vehicles in the country for years, challenges such as traffic violations, unregistered vehicles, and limited manpower have hampered effective road monitoring. Data from the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority shows that as of October 2024, Bhutan had 128,087 registered vehicles, with Thimphu having the highest number at 70,457, followed by Phuentsholing with 39,702 registered vehicles.
The growing number of vehicles has led to a rise in traffic violations, unregistered vehicles, and other safety concerns, including speeding, drunk driving, tailgating (driving too close to the car in front), and unlicensed driving. According to the latest data from the RBP, it shows that in the first two months of 2025, Bhutan has recorded 25 deaths and 258 injuries from 239 motor vehicle accidents. Drunk driving, lack of vehicle control, overspeeding, unlicensed driving, and tailgating were identified as the leading causes of vehicle incidents.
The AI-powered ANPR aims to directly address these concerns. By providing real-time monitoring and alerts, the system will enable authorities to identify traffic violations such as drunk driving, overspeeding, and illegal parking, among others, quickly and efficiently. Further, the system will assist law enforcement in capturing valuable data that can be used to improve traffic safety strategies and prevent/reduce accidents before they occur and save lives.
Moreover, this AI-powered ANPR system will also help streamline traffic operations, ensuring limited human resources are deployed where they are needed most, resulting in the overall system improvement and security benefiting both law enforcement and the public.
Additionally, the system will also enable a response to incidents more effectively, enhance surveillance, and provide real-time alerts about potential violations. This system will not only aid in traffic law enforcement but also help in accident prevention and crime reduction.
Apart from enhancing public safety and optimizing law enforcement, the ANPR system will also address the traffic violation issues by providing instantaneous alerts and collecting key data, ensuring that limited human resources are deployed where they are needed most.
The development of the ANPR system is a key component of DHI’s broader strategy to drive innovation and harness cutting-edge technologies to address public safety and infrastructure challenges.
Despite numerous interventions, the official shared that there are several challenges encountered during the testing phases, including difficulties in capturing clear images of license plates at night due to the glare from incoming vehicle headlights and the presence of some vehicles with non-reflective number plates.
Nidup Lhamo from Thimphu
