Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 25: As the installation of traffic signals has resulted in traffic jams and long queues of vehicles especially near rotaries, the authorities have decided do away with the traffic signals at eight round abouts in the Jammu city. However for the time being the signals at these eight – rotaries have been put on blinker.
Official sources told Excelsior that this was decided in a high level meeting held here recently.
The meeting, which was chaired by Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani and attended by DIG Traffic, Municipal Commissioner, D C Jammu and SE PWD decided to do away with traffic signals at eight round -abouts in the city following a survey ordered by the Government to know whether the traffic lights streamlined the traffic movement in the city or not as there were complaints that instead of solving the problem these lights added to the inconvenience of the people to a great extent at some places.
After the survey, it was found that the installation of traffic lights have come as a cropper at rotaries, sources said.
After conducting the survey, it was found that no signals were needed at rotaries as U Way traffic will pass smoothly from right side at such round abouts, sources said, adding it was also found that after installation of traffic signals there were more traffic jams at such places.
Sources said there was a general complaint about the Indira Chowk Crossing, which is nearest the SMGS Hospital that in case a serious patient is to be shifted to hospital he may die till his vehicle crosses the traffic signal. There can be even problems for the patients being shifted to other hospitals of the country in the event of an emergency, sources added.
Sources said during the survey it was found that the traffic signals were working better at other places but they had come a cropper at round abouts where a huge queue of vehicles is seen till the signal is clear.
Sources said the Traffic Department has at present put the signals on blinker at the rotaries, which included Panama Chowk, Brig Rajinder Chowk, Vivekananda Chowk, Indira Chowk, K C Crossing, Shalamar Chowk, Dogra Chowk and Jewel Chowk. Though the traffic signal is running smoothly at Bikram Chowk it will also be removed from there due to construction of Flyover, sources added.
Sources said the traffic signals do not work at various places properly especially at Paloura crossing where power remained off for maximum time during the day. However the authorities claimed that there is total back up of power for 72 hours.
It may be recalled that Traffic signals were installed in Jammu in the month of July by Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) after due consultation with the authorities of Traffic Department.
According to sources, out of 69 identified points the traffic signals were installed at 30 points by the JMC authorities. The JMC has kept two engineers at the disposal of the Traffic Department to check the functioning of these signals, sources added.
Sources said that JMC has no problem in removing the signals from the rotaries and install them at remaining points out of 69 identified places. The JMC has earmarked Rs 2.30 crore for the purpose out of which Rs 1.89 crore have been spent for the installation of lights in the city so far, sources added.
The sources said that JMC took the decision of installing the signals after taking the top officers of Traffic Police into confidence and the decision, was taken unanimously by the officers of the two departments.
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