Even after several rounds of bidding for installation of adaptive traffic signals, the process remains incomplete.
According to traffic police officials there are no bidders for upgradation of traffic signals because of a tedious bidding process along with conditions for the maintenance of these signals.
Adaptive signals make changes to traffic signals in response to traffic conditions. The duration of the red lightcalculat according to the number of vehicles at the signal, therefore reducing the waiting time at the signals. This is done through the AI cameras attached to the signals. Whereas in traditional signals, one has to manually set the duration of the red light, this remains unchanged regardless the number of vehicles.
Deekshith, an auto driver said that he has to stop at a lot of traffic signals throughout the day which he finds very annoying. Even when there is not much traffic he still needs to wait for two minutes. He added that during peak hours in the evening, it is fine to wait because vehicles keep coming from all sides but during non-rush hours the waiting time should be reduced.
Oblesh, from Shanthi Nagar said that the waiting time at traffic lights in the city is too much. They should keep it lesser during the non-peak hours at least, he added. He said that the waiting time is much more than the time to move when the signal is green, especially in the evening.
According to information from the Traffic Management Centre, Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) floated tenders for changing the remaining signals to adaptive ones. The bidder for this tender had to change the lights and also take responsibility for its maintenance for a period of five years. This, say officials have put the bidders off the process.
Anil Kumar Grampurohit, Inspector at Traffic Management Centre, Bengaluru said, “Adaptive signals will drastically reduce travel time and the emission from vehicles will also be reduced as it is maximum at the signals when a lot of vehicles stop with their engines turned on.”
M.N. Sreehari, Transport and Traffic Advisor to the Government of Karnataka said, “If the signals are synchronized, when vehicles move from one junction to another, it will automatically turn green and vehicles need not stop. This will reduce the travel time”
He added that all signals require upgradation and maintenance. The governmentwaits for the lowest tenders and they still have to negotiate on terms because the quality is of utter importance. If there is an impartial and transparent tendering system, only then more and more independent companies will come forward to invest.
