Have you wondered why it takes so long for the traffic signal to turn green in some parts of the city, even when there are hordes of vehicles behind you? The answer is non-synchronisation of traffic signals.
Despite a substantial increase in number of vehicles in the city over the recent years, the municipal corporation that manages 19 traffic lights in the city has so far been unable to synchronise them on the pattern of metro cities.
Several roads connect to the ever-busy Ferozepur Road where traffic is controlled through traffic lights. The volume of traffic on these roads fluctuates throughout the day. However, the traffic lights have not been synchronised according to the traffic volume. Consequently, even during rush hours, vehicles are given inadequate time to pass through.
Besides frustrating commuters due to long wait at the signals, the non-synchronisation of these lights is also leading to wastage of huge amounts of fuel.
The road in front of ESIC Model Hospital near inter-state bus terminus is one such example where traffic snarls are commonplace due to non-synchronisation of traffic lights. However, the civic body is yet to wake up to the issue.
Kamaljit Soi, vice-chairman, Punjab State Road Safety Council, said Ludhiana was in dire need of synchronisation of traffic lights. "Traffic lights should be adjusted as per the volume of vehicles coming on a particular road during different times of the day," Soi said.
{{/usCountry}}Kamaljit Soi, vice-chairman, Punjab State Road Safety Council, said Ludhiana was in dire need of synchronisation of traffic lights. "Traffic lights should be adjusted as per the volume of vehicles coming on a particular road during different times of the day," Soi said.
{{/usCountry}}Stating that as per a survey fuel worth Rs 70,000 crore was wasted during wait at traffic signals in India, Soi said, "Synchronisation of lights will help avoid wastage of fuel. Traffic police should conduct a survey on busy roads of the city and then adjust the traffic lights as per requirement."
He said in some metros of the country, thanks to neat timing of traffic lights, if a vehicle was driven on a constant speed, it had to wait minimally. "This is possible in Ludhiana only if the traffic lights are timed keeping the traffic volume in mind," Soi said, adding that 20% fuel could be saved in the process.
Surprisingly, when contacted, SP Singh, superintending engineer, lights branch, MC, said no synchronisation of traffic lights had ever taken place in Ludhiana, as the idea never struck the corporation.