Mangaluru: A few months ago, important junctions in the city were installed with new traffic lights, which did bring huge relief to road users due to the discipline that it brought on road.
However, it is now shocking to know that most of these signals have gone kaput.
On a busy Saturday afternoon, the traffic at Bendoor Junction came to a standstill at about 3.30 pm. Impatient vehicle users were seen blowing horns, vying to pass the junction before the other, adding to the chaos.
The reason behind this pandemonium was that the few month old signal has stopped functioning. It is only the yellow light that keeps blinking.
The role of the traffic signal is now often being played by a local bus conductor who is in a hurry to get his bus out of the melee. For a while, as he navigates the traffic, thereby making way for his bus to pass, he bids adieu to the role and someone other ‘Good Samaritan’ steps into the shoe!
When, Uday Naik, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic was contacted, he said, KSRTC, PVS Circle, Lalbagh are functioning and signals at Bunts hostel, Horticulture (opp St.Theresa School, Kankanady, Ambedkar Cirlce (Jyothi Theatre) are not functioning due to fault. Also due to shortage of Police personnel the signals could not be put to use.
He says that unscientifically placed signal at Bunts Hostel Circle is only adding to the traffic snarls.
While some signals are maintained by Bharat Electronics, CMS and Gammon maintain some other. However, the issue has been taken up with them so that they can set right the signals.
