Come February, at least 27 electronic traffic signals would be in place across the city.
Chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, in a review meeting of the traffic signal project on Monday, asked the agencies concerned to coordinate with each other for timely installation of traffic lights. Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCo), the agency responsible for the project, has set a target of installing at least 27 of the 97 new traffic signals by February 15 next year.
While 25 traffic signals would have fixed timers, remaining 72 would be adaptive signals. They would be operated through a control room.
'We have started removing the old traffic signals, which have been defunct for the past couple of years. We have identified 27 locations across the city, where the lights would be installed in the first phase. The installation work is expected to start from January in coordination with Patna traffic police and we have targeted to commence the operation of the first lot of traffic signals by February 15,' said a senior BUIDCo official.
BUIDCo signed an agreement with ARS T&TT on November 7 for intelligent traffic system, entailing an overall cost of Rs 25.2 crore. The intelligent transport system being executed includes installation of electronic traffic signals and CCTV cameras connected to each other through internal Wi-Fi network. BUIDCo officials claimed that few of the locations selected to install the new traffic signals include SP Verma Road crossing, Dakbungalow crossing, Kotwali crossing and High Court junction among others. (See chart)
The traffic signals are being installed as a part of the 'city operational plan' mandated by Union ministry of urban development for running low-floor buses under the centrally sponsored Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Brighter roads
BUIDCo is working on a project envisaging installation of 1,100 light emitting diode (LED) lights across the city with an estimated outlay of around Rs 38.5 crore. BUIDCo officials claimed that the 13 streets in the city, which have been recommended by the civic body to be covered on priority basis, has been finalised.
'The design for the new LED streetlights - single- and double-arm - has been prepared and we are waiting for the final approval on it from higher authorities before commencing the final installation work. The work is expected to start in mid-January,' said a BUIDCo official.
GREEN LIGHT
A few locations selected for installation of traffic signals
Dakbungalow crossing
SP Verma Road crossing
Kotwali crossing
Planetarium crossing
Income Tax crossing
R-Block Golambar
High court crossing
Boring Road crossing
