Complaints are common about the “erratic” traffic signals in the city. But one has only luck to thank if it still works, even though rarely.
Traffic signals at some of the important points including the New Bus Stand, Stadium, and Eranhipalam junctions have exhausted their expiry date, says the Assistant Commissioner Traffic K.P. Abdul Razak. “They can go off permanently at any time,” he says. The Assistant Commissioner says the signal lights have not only run past their expected lifespan but have also long run out of the Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) period with the firm, which installed them.
“The AMC period with KELTRON has finished around two years ago and whatever maintenance works they were doing recently were out of their large-heartedness and certain personal commitments,” says Mr. Razak, who was in news recently for introducing some traffic reforms in the city.
The traffic officials have promptly brought the issue to the notice of the authorities concerned. “We have also submitted an estimate given by KELTRON for the installation of a new system to the authorities,” says Mr. Razak. The Road Safety Commission, to which the estimate for the overhaul of the obsolete system was submitted, is yet to take any “visible action” towards it.
According to Mr. Razak, the proposal and estimate has also been submitted to the district administration. District Collector C.A. Latha, he says, “promised” to do it by including it in the development works to done in connection with the impending National Games in the city.
Facelift“However nothing has materialised yet,” he says. Ms. Latha, in a recent face-to-face programme with the representatives of civic organisations, had announced that the city was about to get a major “facelift” for its roads in connection with the conduct of the National Games.
