Electronic traffic signals in Jammu, Srinagar still a dream

Electronic traffic signals in Jammu, Srinagar still a dream
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 21
Due to the indifferent approach of the authorities concerned, the fate of the much-publicised project to install electronic traffic signals in Jammu and Srinagar is uncertain.

For the past more than a year, the traffic police and the municipal corporations of the two capital cities have been claiming that the project is in its final stage. Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had given nod for installing traffic lights, yet the work has not been started.

The IGP (Traffic), HK Lohia, had suggested to the government to install electronic traffic signals at various points in the two cities to control traffic congestion.

A senior traffic police official told The Tribune that they had prepared a report and had submitted it to the department concerned last year. He added that they were given an assurance that the signals would be installed shortly. “We conducted a number of surveys of the two cities and the accident-prone areas were shown to the authorities concerned, yet nothing had been done so far,” said the official.

Giving further details, he said earlier the non-availability of funds created hurdles in the installation of the signals, but it was decided to float tenders to invite companies, which could install them free of cost, in lieu of a right to advertise on the poles.

Later, Transport Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon decided that the government would install the signals on the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis to regulate the traffic movement in the cities.

A total of 123 crossing points have been identified for the installation of signals, of which 68 are in Srinagar and 55 in Jammu.

The Housing and Urban Development Department says it has directed the municipal corporations of both cities to invite tenders and start work on the project at the earliest.

The Assistant Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Charan Deep Singh, who has been looking after the project, said, “We have received tenders from a number of companies, but have not scrutinised them as yet.”

“We are keen to install traffic signals, but it will take some more time to complete the formalities,” he added.