PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, May 24: Even as the lockdown restrictions have been relaxed and traffic is back on the roads, traffic lights in various parts of the city are still lying dysfunctional.
Several new traffic lights that were put in to make traffic management easier for the public are not even in operation, according to a rough study of traffic lights across the district. Near the Kadru Bridge, Kishoreganj Chowk, MS Dhoni’s residence, and many other traffic signals in the city were never used.
The state of the traffic signals is degrading due to insufficient maintenance, as evidenced by the filth and spider web that has grown around the signal near the Kadru bridge.
The battery from which the traffic lights draw power during power outages, according to sources, is drained during protracted power outages and the signal ceases to work. Following that, the traffic is controlled by the officers stationed at the intersection. At the same time, the junctions become extremely congested during VIP movement when manual traffic control is implemented by closing the signal at that location.
According to the sources, automatic number plate readers and red light violence detectors have been installed at various traffic signal stations throughout the city, but none of them is operational.
According to traffic department officials, new signals have been installed to improve the capital’s traffic system. Residents of the capital will also be relieved of the traffic congestion. However, due to technical difficulties, all of the signals could not be activated.
Amit Kumar, CEO of Ranchi Smart City Corporation Limited, refuted any traffic light concerns in the city, claiming that the traffic lights installed by Smart City are frequently maintained and that the spots where they are not operating are due to road construction work.
“The Smart City erected the traffic signals, but the traffic department on the spot is in charge of operations. The new traffic lights, which have been put in several areas, can sense traffic and properly control is based on the rush on various roadways. Understandably, a road with more traffic will get longer time on the green light than a road with less traffic, but all of this is at the discretion of the traffic cops stationed there,” Kumar explained.
The cost of installing traffic lights, cameras, emergency call boxes, and other traffic-related equipment was estimated to be around Rs 164 crore. The cost of constructing traffic signals was around two crore rupees. In Ranchi, signals have been put at 34 places, 16 of which are new. Meanwhile, a proposal was made to put smart traffic lights in 60 locations.
