Inordinate delay hits functioning of Intelligent Traffic Light System in Srinagar

Srinagar, July 13: Commuters have decried inordinate delay in the operation of the Intelligent Traffic Light System (ITLS) in the summer capital saying this leads to massive traffic jams at vital intersections.

They said that despite the installation of the Intelligent Traffic Lights a long time ago, the majority of the Srinagar areas don’t have properly functional traffic lights.

“Most of the commuters drive without any traffic lights facility on the roads. The new smart traffic lights system was supposed to improve the traffic system, but its non-functioning has worsened the issue. Authorities were quick to install new lights with state-of-the-art facilities, but when it comes to making them functional, the process is going at a snail’s pace,” said Irshad Ahmad, a commuter.

The aggrieved commuters said that with multiple Smart City Projects underway in the city, there are several traffic bottlenecks across Srinagar. They said that the absence of traffic lights has made the situation even worse.

“There are important junctions in Srinagar that lack the traffic light facility. Most of the junctions are managed manually which creates a traffic mess. We are stuck in the traffic jams on a daily basis. Now we hope that authorities will soon make all the traffic lights functional and we will have a sigh of relief,” said another commuter.

Greater Kashmir did multiple stories on the issue, and officials said that the project was implemented for the 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.

SSP Traffic City, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, said the traffic light system will be fully functional soon. He said there are some pending formalities that are in the final stage, and soon, the majority of these lights will be working with all the latest facilities.

“Many traffic lights are live and cameras on them are also working. We will be soon be issuing challans through this system as the process is in its final stage. The concerned authorities are also finalising the system's annual maintenance contract, which will further make the system smooth,” Shah said.