Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 3: Most of the traffic signals in Jammu city are now defunct, even as the authorities say they are likely to install 30 more signals in the city.
People are questioning the rationale for installing more signals when the authorities cannot handle the old ones which are dead.
"It makes no sense to install more signals when the officials are unable to repair the defunct signals," a senior resident told Early Times.
Source in Jammu Municipal Corporation told Early Times that in financial year 2012-13, the Traffic department of Jammu had decided under the supervision of JMC to install signals at 60 junctions across the city.
"In the first phase, signals were set up at 30 places including Satwari Chowk, Gangyal, Green Belt, Bikram Chowk, Jewel, Panama Chowk, Gole Market, Shakuntla Chowk,Narwal, KC Chowk, Shakuntla Chowk, Rehari, Janipur and other places. The remaining 30 locations were left for the second phase, and now the authorities have decided to install lights there," the sources said.
A daily commuter, Roshan Sharma said the installed signals lights, rather than streamlining the traffic, have created chaos on the roads.
"If we are travelling from Satwari to Bhau Plaza, in two kilometer road stretch we have to take three halts within few minutes as traffic signals are at Green Belt Chowk, and you will take another stop at just few meter ahead near at Shourya Motors chowk," he said.
He added that if they authorities wanted to channelize the traffic of Jammu city and wanted to give respite to people from traffic snarls, they should improve the existing signals before installing more lights.
When contacted Superintendent of Traffic Police, Mohan Lal said the proposal of installation of 30 more traffic signal lights has been forwarded to JMC. "New signals will be installed soon," he said.
Commissioner of JMC, Soujanya Kumar Sharma said they have short-listed a Delhi-based company for installation of remaining signals lights in interior locations of the city. He said the company would also install some signal lights for pedestrians at Bikram Chowk and other locations where vehicles are found moving at high speed. He also assured that the 'dead' signals would be repaired. |
