City gets first overhead traffic signal on Jawaharlal Nehru Road

In yet another move to curb road accidents, overhead traffic signals with improved visibility has been installed for the first time in the state.

The pilot project has been installed on Jawaharlal Nehru Road close to its intersection with Lindsey Street. If the move comes out to be successful, such signals will be installed at all important road intersections of the city. V Solomon Nesakumar, Deputy Commissioner (Traffic), said: "With the success of the pilot project, the city traffic police will install such signals wherever necessary on major thoroughfares."

Explaining the need of such overhead traffic signals, Nesakumar said: "Visibility level of such traffic signals is more compared to that of those which are on the left side of the roads. Thus, we have decided to take up the pilot project."

An iron-bar post has been set up across the road and three traffic signals have been installed on it. The uniqueness of the traffic signal is that it can be visible from quite a distance. Moreover, it makes easier for drivers as they do not have to search for traffic signals on either side of the roads. Drivers do not have to look right or left while driving to find whether the signal is red or green. They can see the traffic signal blinking from far away and will get more time in deciding whether to slow down their vehicles or not. It may be recalled that a few years ago, the city police along with other concerned departments, had carried out a study to assess the difficulties that drivers face while driving their vehicles. It was found that in many places, traffic signals situated on sides of roads often get covered with branches of trees and it becomes difficult for the drivers to follow the signals properly. Often, steps are taken to cut the branches of the trees but there was no permanent solution to the same. Now, with installation of overhead traffic signals across a road, there will be no questions of such problems arising.

Moreover, a signal above each lane on a road will be of great help for drivers. It will also help in maintaining proper lane driving that the traffic police always ask to follow to avoid accidents.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had launched a state-wide "Safe Drive Save Life" campaign to check road accidents and such a step of the Kolkata Police will immensely help in reducing the rate of accidents in the city where the road space is only six percent. The state Transport department has given a total amount of Rs 45 crore to the state and city police to improve the signaling system. It may be mentioned that such overhead traffic signals are in different parts of US including California, Michigan and Maryland.