dorina crossing on monday

6.14pm

6.19pm

Vehicles passing through the Dorina crossing, which records a traffic flow of around 300 vehicles an hour, had to rely on policemen to steer traffic for more than seven hours on Monday as power supply to all eight traffic lights was snapped.

CESC disconnected electricity to the signal posts around 11am as arrears of Rs 19,000 had piled up over four months. The monthly power bill for traffic lights at a single crossing is usually in the range of Rs 4,500.

Electric supply to the traffic lights at the Dorina crossing was restored around 6.30pm after negotiations between the police, CESC and the agency in charge of the signals.

But for several hours before that traffic cops had a harrowing time waving at vehicles as drivers were at a loss. “This is a vital crossing connecting north and south Calcutta. All Howrah station-bound vehicles from the south pass through here,” a traffic sergeant said.

An advertising professional driving through the area was foxed on reaching the Dorina crossing. “I came speeding down the Park Street flyover and did not know what to do when I realised the traffic light was not working,” he said. “Suddenly I noticed a cop waving at me to move ahead.”

Senior officers at Lalbazar said maintenance of traffic lights is outsourced to private agencies that also pay the power bills. Bells Advertising Syndicate, which is responsible for the traffic lights at the Dorina crossing, had not cleared dues for four months, alleging inflated bills. “The outstanding amount reached about Rs 19,000,” a senior CESC engineer said. “The agency built a wall near the signal post. We told the agency our men were unable to read the meter.” As the agency allegedly did not respond, bills were generated based on average reading.