Traffic signals in Coimbatore City, which have been neglected for long without glasses, bulbs and funds for periodical maintenance will soon be revived and maintained with sponsorship support.
Fund for maintenance of the signals has always been a major problem.
Signal posts that are weak and not stable are being replaced with the latest modern metal beams that will not only have signal lights but lane and route indicators too.
Modernised
City Police Commissioner C. Sylendra Babu told The Hindu that 37 traffic signals in the city were being modernised. Of these eight would be on Avanashi Road.
The signals would be set up by four advertising agencies with the support of corporate sponsors in lieu of a small space for advertisement mileage in return.
The advertisements would be restricted to the stipulated and prescribed minimum space, Mr. Babu said.
Efforts would be made to get signals on Avanashi Road synchronised so that motorists who got green signal at JM Bakery junction could cross Lakshmi Mills junction without having to wait for signal en route.
The advertisers would also pay a prescribed annual fee to the State Government.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) N. Kamini said all these signals would be supported by UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) system and there would be surveillance cameras hooked on to every signal.
Outputs from these cameras would be monitored by the police from one or two police outposts to come up on Avanashi Road.
Vehicle drivers violating traffic rules would be immediately booked.
Signals on Avanashi Road are expected to be ready by the end of March.
Other signals would be ready by the end of April because the works could commence only after completion of the ongoing road works, especially on Tiruchi Road and Mettuppalayam Road.
These signals and timers will be use light emitting diode systems for better visibility.
Such modern signals with route and lane indicators will be installed on almost all arterial roads such as DB Road, Thadagam Road, Sathyamangalam Road, Pollachi Road and Palakkad Road.
Once modernisation of signals is completed, funds will not be a problem for maintaining the signals.