Varanasi is introducing AI-based sensors and color-coded navigation to manage massive tourist footfall, which reached 17 crore in 2025. Winners of the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s $3 million Sustainable Cities Challenge, CityFlow and Janjatra, will provide real-time crowd monitoring and route diversion near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Varanasi is turning to high-tech solutions to address the challenge of managing millions of pilgrims and tourists. The city, which recorded a massive influx of over 17 crore visitors in 2025 compared to a local population of 36 lakh, will now implement an AI-driven mobility platform and an automated wayfinding system. These technologies were selected as winners of the $3 million Sustainable Cities Challenge, a program organized by the Toyota Mobility Foundation in partnership with local authorities.
Real-Time Crowd Analytics and Sensor Networks
The first solution, CityFlow, developed by CityData.AI and Nippon Koei, focuses on monitoring pedestrian density. The system uses a network of sensors—referred to as city sensors—to track how crowds move through the city in real time. Data collected by these sensors is processed by an analytics engine that can predict when congestion will become critical at major points like Dashasamegh Ghat or Gadoliya. By predicting these patterns, authorities can receive automated alerts, allowing police and emergency services to move resources to specific high-traffic areas before incidents occur. While currently operational at eight locations, the project plans to scale its sensor network to 50 and eventually 100 sites.
Color-Coded Navigation to Divert Traffic
To complement the monitoring system, a secondary solution called Janjatra, developed by The Urbanizer, focuses on pedestrian flow. This system uses color-coded signs to guide visitors through less-crowded bylanes, helping to relieve pressure on the main roads leading to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. For example, yellow signs might indicate the main temple path, while blue and red signs denote ghats and exits. The system is also supported by a digital layer that monitors lane density via CCTV. If a particular route becomes too crowded, the digital signage can automatically suggest alternate, less-congested paths to pedestrians.
Funding and Long-Term Implementation
The Toyota Mobility Foundation has committed to funding these technology providers for a period of one year to establish the infrastructure. Beyond the initial deployment, the Uttar Pradesh state government has expressed interest in supporting the broader adoption of these technologies. For investors and observers, the key monitorable will be the ability of these systems to integrate with existing municipal infrastructure and the potential for scaling these mobility solutions to other high-traffic religious and tourist hubs across India. As the city balances its historic identity with modern infrastructure requirements, the success of this project could serve as a model for public-private partnerships in urban mobility management.