Dysfunctional traffic signal becoming source of perpetual nuisance

MARDAN:    Despite of the passage of more than six year the traffic
signals installed in the Awami National Party and people’s party led
provincial government has not started working so far,
it may be noted that in the ANP and PPP led provincial government former chief minister
Ameer Haider Hoti in 2013 to decrease the traffic jam problem in the
city at a cost of Rs. 40 million under the supervision of Mardan
Development Authority (MDA) installed traffic signals on different
chowks of the city. However after the passage of more than six years
the traffic signals isn’t functional. Later on PTI government in
beatification of Mardan project also allocated 8 million rupees for
the operationalization and improvement of the traffic signals. However
an official at deputy commissioner office said that work on 4 chowks
on N-45 traffic signals has completed while works on 3 chowks are
under process. An official at district government said that district
government has also allocated millions rupees for the improvement of
traffic and traffic signals. However despite of all these the traffic
signals installed on different square in the city after the passage of
six years has not functional. A senior police officer added that we in
our personal capacity contacted engineer for the maintenance of the
traffic signals. He added that the engineer said that more than 1
million expanse will be come on the maintenance of the traffic
signals. He added that this amount is out of our approach. He added
that traffic police Mardan in their own capacity closed the
unnecessary U-turns in the City and also draw zebra crossing and other
line in some chowks of the city. He added that traffic police also
need several sign boards to install on different sports in the city
for the facilitation of the people. The senior officer added that
however in this connection we need funds and the funds is in the hand
of district and tehsil government. He added that in this connection we
also approached the district and tehsil government but they did not
ready to cooperate traffic police in this connection. A resident of
the City Faizullah Khan said that the traffic signals have been
installed at every square of the city but they are of no service to
People. 5 to 7 policemen perform their duties in every square of the
city to avoid traffic jam. He added that if the traffic sagnals
started working it will decrease burden on traffic police. “The
traffic signals were purchased and installed on public money and
therefore, they should be made functional forthwith” he demanded.