KOZHIKODE: The maintenance works progressing at snail’s pace and the heavy flow of traffic are making travel worst for the passengers in the city in the scorching sun. Adding to them is the non-functioning traffic signals at the key junctions. As the temperature hits a record, it is not advisable to deploy the traffic personnel also during the afternoon hours to control vehicles.
The drainage renovation works on the Mavoor road was expected to end by the end of March. However, it is still continuing, with no sign of completion soon.
Though traffic police personnel are deployed at the junction, the vehicles are moving too slow. As the works of the drainage progressed, it affected the signal at a nearby Stadium Junction.
The connection to the signal lights was lost during the renovation works and it is still to be rectified. Buses and other heavy vehicles coming from Rajaji Road, Puthiyara Road, Ram Mohan Road and Pavamani Road intersect here and there is hardly anybody to control them.
Keltron has carried out the installation works of both signal lights and since the annual maintenance contract (AMC) period is over, the agency can not undertake the repair works unless either the sanction order or the funds are released.
“The flow of vehicles have increased considerably. We cannot deploy traffic personnel from 1 pm to 3 pm considering the scorching sun. Requests were made to the Keltron and we are expecting the lights to be repaired soon,” said traffic ACP (South) A.K. Babu.
However, Keltron chief general manager M. Georgekutty said unless the police or road safety department issues an order, they cannot carry out the maintenance.
“The maintenance duty for the CCTV as well as the signals lies with the traffic police. If they could not raise sufficient funds, it should be transferred to the road safety department. Even if the fund is not released, we should get at least an order stating the same,” Mr Georgekutty said.
