The traffic police have started deploying the 20 portable traffic signal systems that were procured recently to tide over problems encountered during the scheduled citywide load shedding.
Each of the three police districts in the city has six to seven portable systems on standby at specific locations.
Sanjay Arora, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) said that the systems would be deployed whenever an important traffic signal shuts down due to a power outage. “They would also be regularly deployed in junctions where we feel there is a requirement for a signal, but it is not available at present.”
Rechargeable battery
He said that though the portable signal can function by deriving power from an attached solar panel, it will primarily run using a rechargeable battery. The system can continuously operate for 8-10 hours.
The signal timing in each direction can be pre-set or manually changed by traffic personnel at the junction. Since, on an average, 10 of the 276 traffic signals in the city do not work everyday due to maintenance issues, portable signals would be deployed periodically to ensure smooth flow of traffic, Mr. Arora said.
In case motorists notice any traffic lights which repeatedly malfunction, Mr. Arora said that complaints can be registered by calling 28521323 or sending a text message to 90031 30103.
