Kashmir Newz Specials

City without traffic lights

Srinagar has the distinction of being a city without traffic lights. And the government has no immediate plans to introduce the regulation system preferred all over the world. Peerzada Arshad Hamid reports.

Srinagar, March 23, 2006 (Kashmir Newz Specials):---

Pic / Javed Dar

Srinagar had its experiment with traffic lights in 1974, and officials say it failed.

The remains of the traffic lights installed then, can be seen at many intersections today. At places they stand only to support a few hoardings and house some nests. With bulbs and the electric fittings missing, the hollow tin enclosures fitted on the traffic poles are the best bets for birds looking for safe shelters.

On one of the signals in the city centre, a hoarding erected by police, warns people against unclaimed objects. Another one close by serves as a resting place for street vendors and beggars.

Three decades after its first experiment with the automatic traffic regulation system the city doesn’t seem to be ready for another experiment. No one has the answers to why the implementation to traffic light regulation system failed in 1974.

"Traffic signals! We don't have any record of ones that were installed. They have not been installed by traffic department. They were installed long before in the past," said Abdul Hamid, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Kashmir.

Like the Traffic SP the Officials at the Srinagar Municipal Corporation keep themselves aloof and argue that the matter does not fall under their purview and that traffic authorities are dealing with the job.

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