Kohima Traffic signals turn into mere showpieces

April 3, 2023 25 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 3

As the G20 Summit, scheduled from April 4-6 at the State capital Kohima draws near, heavy preparations are underway by various government machineries to showcase the best possible image of Nagaland to the visiting dignitaries.

The non-functioning traffic-lights installed across the capital in various key junctions, which would definitely amuse many, are not one of the presentable features.

As of now, they are mere showpieces with contention over its maintenance and others issues. The traffic lights or the Automated Traffic Management System (ATMS) in question, installed under the initiative of the Kohima Smart City Development Limited (KSCDL) project have been on indefinite ‘disuse’ since last year.

Kevithuto Sophie, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Dimapur and former Senior Superintend of Police (SP) in Kohima had earlier maintained that the police were not informed before-hand regarding the installation of the traffic lights. A major contention was also the responsibility for footing the electricity bill, he then added.

While comments from the KSCDL Chief Executive Officer, Er K Theunuo could not be taken, sources familiar with the project stated that the ATMS was currently ‘on hold’ at the request of the traffic police, who are the end users at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).

A feasibility study was also conducted prior to the introduction of the traffic lights. The study was conducted surveying the other cities of the North-East region.

After the project was green-lighted and installed, trail runs were conducted during the earlier part of 2022. However, it was halted by the authorities. Prior to this, the State Government had previously toyed with the same idea in Dimapur during the 1990s and the early 2000s. That too had fairly resulted in total failure after a few months.

It was also learnt that Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) was the contractor responsible for installing the ATMS at the various junctions as well the ICCC.

Meanwhile, during the foundation of KSDCL on March 24, Nagaland’s Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Advisor Zhaleo Rio called for p[roper maintenance of created assets. “If we cannot maintain our created assets for use in a manner it is expected, then, we will be projecting a very bad image of the Nagas,” he said.

Accordingly, he appealed all the stakeholders, including those departments connected with the Smart City Mission, to see that “our assets created are properly used and maintained.”