Traffic system has broken down in the absence of the functional Automatic Traffic Light Signal System in Rajshahi city.
Traffic jam is a common sight in most points of the city. Road crashes often take place because commuters and drivers do not go by manual signals.
But neither traffic police nor the city corporation are eager for setting the system right for reasons unknown.
According to Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), automatic traffic lights were established C&B, Laskhmipur, Bindu, Saheb Bazar Zero Point, Moni Chattar and Talaimari crossings forTk36 lakh 1996.
In 2002 Medical College Gate, Bohorompur Bypass Road, Court Station, Kashiadanga Bypass, Kashiadanga Bypass (old) crossings were brought under automatic traffic light system for Tk49 lakh.
Automatic traffic lights were then installed at the intersections of Utsab Cinema Hall, Sagarparha, Shiroil Station, Zia Shishu Park and Nouda Para’s Aamchattar in the city.
This correspondent visited the traffic lights and found some flickering sometimes and some totally out of order and the remainder have been set up at such a place that drivers cannot catch sight of them at all.
A city traffic constable, seeking anonymity said, “We are struggling to make commuters and drivers go by traffic laws, but neither the city corporation nor the traffic police are going for setting the lights right.”
The city accounts for 113 traffic constables, five assistant sub-inspectors and three inspectors, one officer-in-charge and one traffic inspector for policing traffic system.
“Traffic lights have not been working for so long,” says the traffic constable, adding: “Traffic policing could be made much better if they are repaired.”
Golam Murshed, acting Executive Engineer (power division) at Rajshahi City Corporation says, “Most of the traffic signal lights have gone out of order. We have a plan to repair them.”
But we will do the repairs on the fast-track basis if traffic police contact us about this.”
Rajshahi Metropolitan Traffic Inspector Raihan Ibne Rahman says, “We cannot enforce traffic laws properly because of the broken-down traffic lights and so we cannot enforce the laws even if we want it eagerly.
However, if Rajshahi City Corporation repairs and re-install traffic lights consulting us, we can enforce traffic lights properly.”
