Traffic at Sati Choura in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, July 25: Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) will soon install digital traffic signalling systems at four new locations in the city as part of a new traffic management plan by city police.

The civic authority had planned to come up with four more traffic signal posts in the CMC area on ‘Build, Operate and Transfer’ (BOT) basis by a private party.

“We have already received one expression of interest for erection and maintenance of the electronic signal system on BOT basis with sole exclusive advertisement rights on the traffic poles. We will proceed with the contract with the private agency soon after receiving the required approval from the government,” CMC secretary Ashutosh Samal told The Telegraph today.

The four new traffic signal posts had been planned at Mani Mandir near Press Chak, Rural District Police Officer’s office near collectorate, Mata Matha, and Rotary Eye Hospital in Markat Nagar.

“Initially, the contract would be executed for 10 years and the overall maintenance cost, including electricity bill charges, will be borne by the agency,” Samal said.

Official sources said display tax or licence fees for glow signs and advertisements exhibited on the traffic poles will be paid annually by the selected agency to the corporation as determined by the municipal council. The present licence fee has been fixed at Rs 90 per square foot. The CMC had earlier entered into agreements for 12 existing traffic signal posts — six on ‘Repair, Operate and Transfer’ (ROT) basis and another six on BOT basis.

“Post-installation, maintenance of the traffic signal posts is a key area that needs attention. The CMC should ensure that maintenance work is taken up on a priority basis,” said Rakesh Mohanty of Sector 6 in Markatnagar, where one of the new traffic signal points has been planned near Rotary Eye Hospital.

“We are trying to ensure post-installation maintenance by including a clause in the contract with the selected agency that provides for cancellation of the BOT agreement if any complaint is received from the end user – the city police,” a CMC official said.

Assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Krushna Chandra Samal said: “At present, we have traffic signalling systems at Sikharpur, Madhupatna, Badambadi, Ranihat, Manglabag, Chandi Chak, Sati Choura, Khannagar, Buxi Bazar, College Square, Bajrakabati and Dolamundai.”

“The four new traffic signal posts were planned as part of our traffic management plan. The Rotary Eye Hospital spot was chosen taking into consideration the convergence of most of the traffic at the three road junction entry and exit point from Markatnagar,” the ACP told The Telegraph today.

“Similarly, the T-Junction of three roads at Mani Mandir near Press Chak was chosen for installation of a traffic signal post as heavy vehicles ply regularly on one of the roads, and there are three schools in the vicinity,” he added.