- Trouble — Traffic signals installed two years ago at a cost of Rs 19 crore are out of order
Bhopal: Traffic congestion in the Vidhyut Market area of Bhopal has reached critical levels due to malfunctioning traffic signals and a severe shortage of traffic police personnel. Despite the presence of Habibganj Police Station nearby, the situation remains unchanged, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.
The traffic signals at the Vidhyut Market intersection have been out of order for several days, leading to chaotic traffic flow and a heightened risk of accidents. Furthermore, the absence of police officers at the intersection has allowed some drivers to flout traffic rules, exacerbating the congestion.
In 2023, under the Smart City initiative, 69 traffic signals were installed across the city at a cost of Rs 19 crore. However, only 46 of these signals are operational, while the remaining 35 have become a source of frustration for commuters. The Smart City project had instructed the TechnoSys Company to integrate these signals, with 35 set to be automated and 34 functioning as non-ATS. However, several signals are now malfunctioning, and only eight intersections still have blinking signals—down from 28 originally.
Traffic lights are not working in these areas
Faulty traffic lights are reported at key intersections including Bittan, Trilinga, Karond, Kilol Park, Ahmedabad Palace, Halalpur, Nehru Nagar, and Kali Mandir in Talaiya.
Traffic authorities have initiated corrective measures, but many signals are still out of service due to ongoing metro and other construction work. The concerned agency has been notified, and authorities assured that all faulty traffic lights will be fixed soon.
Sanjay Singh, DCP Traffic, emphasized that repairs are underway and that the public will see improvements shortly.
