Ainthapali Chhak in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Jan. 1: The traffic signal at the busy Ainthapali Chhak, which was installed around one-and-half years ago, is yet to become operational.

Ainthapali Chhak is located on the main road of the city, which meets Mumbai-Calcutta national highway. Thousands of vehicles pass through this intersection every day.

“Though the signal has been installed at this chhak around one-and-half years ago, I have never seen it functioning,” said Ranjit Behera, a local resident. Two traffic personnel are deployed at the intersection to regulate the traffic there.

“However, on several occasion, one can see the traffic staff standing idle on the side of the road,” said Niwas Sahu, another local resident.

A commuter, Balistha Sahu, said: “We face traffic problem at the intersection as the traffic signal is yet to be operational.”

Traffic-in-charge B.B. Naik, however, said: “In the beginning when the signal was installed, we made it operational for few days. However, since the traffic movement at this chhak is very rapid, it was difficult to ease the rush with traffic signal. We had also adjusted the time. But despite this, the rush could not be eased at this intersection.”

“We had to stop operating the traffic signal there and start regulating the traffic movement manually,” he said.

Naik also said that the four-laning work of the national highway was under way. “We have decided to operate the signal after the expansion of the national highway is completed,” he said.