Cuttack, April 4: Authorities have geared up to utilise Rs 3 crore the Indian Oil Corporation had deposited with it almost a year ago to improve and manage traffic in the city.

The traffic management committee will install electronic light signal posts for Rs 1.65 crore at eleven junctions in and around the city, in addition to those already operating in eight locations and press into service 50 walkie talkies, high-resolution cameras with recording facility, speed laser guns and a big hydra crane by spending around Rs 52 lakh to improve traffic management.

The panel took the decision at its monthly meeting on March 30. "The decision is part of the plan for utilisation of Rs 3 crore provided by the Indian Oil Corporation," said deputy commissioner of police, Cuttack, Sanjiv Arora.

"The panel has approved a proposal for installation of electronic signal light posts, purchase of traffic regulation materials and precautionary articles with the Indian Oil funds," said committee member advocate Jaydip Pal.

According to the approved proposal, a copy of which is in possession of The Telegraph, the panel will install electronic signal light posts at Madhupatna, OMP Square, Kaliaboda, Mani Mandir, Beleview, CDA Petanal Crossing, CDA Sector-X, Rural DPO Gada, Balikuda, Trisulia and Kalinga Chhak (Choudwar). Apart from 50 walkie talkie sets at an estimated cost of Rs 13.50 lakh, two high-resolution cameras with recording facility, two speed laser guns and big hydra crane, the committee will utilise the funds in 10 motorcycles, two Bolero and Tata Sumo, 10 hand device for e-challan system, road painting machine, 20 anna barricades, 500 umbrellas, 500 sun glasses and so on.

The committee has formed a sub-committee headed by the Cuttack DCP to make the required purchases following government norms.

"Sustained traffic enforcement and improvement of its infrastructure are a necessity. But, it is not possible to improve the present situation with the available resources. In this situation, utilisation of the Rs 3 crore assumes significance," said assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Cuttack, P.K. Dalai.

Four months ago, Orissa High Court had given the amount to the traffic management committee, which is the sole authority to select projects and take the final decision regarding utilisation of the funds. In 2012, the high court had formed the panel for smooth management of traffic system in the city with co-ordination from all departments.

The inordinate delay is being seen as a classic case of red tape and laid-back approach of the concerned authorities. "It is indeed a sad state of affairs and inaction by the authorities that in spite of available funds, no effective steps could be taken in eleven months to chalk out a plan to utilise it," Ghasiram Verma, president of the Nationalist Lawyers' Forum, had said.

It was on Verma's PIL, the high court had, in an order on February 27, 2012, imposed a set of conditions on the Indian Oil for drawing water from the Mahanadi in Cuttack for its refinery-cum-petrochemicals project in Paradip.

The court had, in an order on February 27, 2012, on a PIL imposed a set of conditions on the Indian Oil for drawing water from the Mahanadi in Cuttack for its refinery-cum-petrochemicals project in Paradip. As part of the set of conditions for drawing water from the Mahanadi, the court had directed the company "to pay Rs 3 crore to the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police commissioner towards improvement and management of traffic system and traffic signal lights at various junctions in Cuttack city".

The firm had deposited Rs 3 crore with the high court registrar (judicial) on April 24, 2015. An account was opened in the State Bank of India's government treasury branch in Bhubaneswar in the name of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police commissioner under the head of "Traffic Development Fund" on May 6, 2015.

But, nothing moved during the next six months. Taking note of it, the high court had, on November 18 last year, ordered that the amount "may be spent for the purpose of improvement and management of traffic signal lights in Cuttack city and the projects shall be approved by the traffic management committee constituted by this court".

The status of order implementation came up for scrutiny on March 18 during the last sitting of the division bench for adjudication on the PILs related to civic problems in Cuttack city. "The division bench of Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice S.C. Parija fixed end of May as deadline for utilisation of the Rs 3 crore provided by the company," additional government advocate Bibekananda Bhuyan said.

In the committee's last monthly meeting on February 23, sources said the assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Cuttack, was entrusted with the job of preparing a proposal.

Headed by the police commissioner, the panel constitutes among others the deputy commissioner of police (Cuttack), municipal commissioner (Cuttack), regional transport commissioner (Cuttack) and the executive engineers of roads & buildings and irrigation (Cuttack), along with representatives of the electricity department, railways, National Highways Authority of India and three advocates.