Delay in operation of Intelligent Traffic Light System takes toll on commuters in Srinagar

Srinagar, Nov 3: Commuters have expressed resentment against delay in operation of the Intelligent Traffic Light System (ITLS) in the summer capital to address traffic jams.

The commuters said that the ITLS project is yet to be completed at various junctions across Srinagar.

They said that the issue is pestering commuters and affecting traffic management. “There are various important junctions in Srinagar areas where the ITLS is not working. This often leads to confusion among commuters and leads to traffic jams. Srinagar areas have a huge traffic flow, which is causing traffic jams in absence of ITLS at these spots,” said Hilal Ahmad, a commuter.

The problem gets compounded as authorities are resorting to traffic diversions.

“For the past several years, despite the installation of ITLS, these were not working, which makes us suffer. At many junctions in uptown and downtown Srinagar, there is an absence of ITLS, which is causing traffic gridlocks. We appeal to authorities that all the junctions should be equipped with ITLS without any delay so that traffic can be streamlined,” said Manzoor Ahmad, another commuter.

The commuters said that at most of the junctions, the traffic is being managed manually. They said that traffic jams in Srinagar have become a norm, and incomplete ITLS is a major reason for that.

Officials said that the project will be completed soon for better management of traffic. They said the system, which is equipped with smart cameras and a state-of-the-art control room, would help streamline the traffic in the city.

CEO of Srinagar Smart City Limited, Athar Aamir Khan, claimed that ITLS has been made functional on most junctions. He said the remaining work will also be completed soon.

“We are supposed to install the ITLS at 60 junctions across Srinagar, of which the system is live and working on 48 junctions. The work on the remaining 12 junctions will be completed soon. These remaining works are yet to be completed because we are completing the civil work in these areas. As soon as that work is finished, only then can we install ITLS there. The 48 working junctions have started generating e-challans too, and we are sending them accordingly,” Khan said.