MC’s no to providing electric connection to traffic lights

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 17

No respite for the city residents residing adjacent to the Bathinda-Barnala highway from Bibiwala Chowk to Rose Garden Chowk. As the Municipal Corporation (MC) has refused the proposal of central works division to provide electricity connection to the traffic lights installed on the key intersection between Bibiwala Chowk and Rose Garden Chowk.

It is pertinent to mention here that Bathinda Tribune had highlighted this issue in these columns and apprised authorities that due to non-functional traffic lights on this stretch two persons have lost their lives in separate road mishaps while minor accidents are being reported on regular basis.

Talking to the Bathinda Tribune Central Works SDO, Hamesh Mittal, said, “Although, the private firm who is working on the maintenance of the highway has installed the traffic lights at Bhatti road and Green Palace road crossings on Bathinda-Barnala highway but the operation of the traffic lights is not under the scope of the firm as brought out by the authority engineer. So, we have sent the letter to MC to provide electricity connection to the traffic lights installed here, but they refused to provide the electricity connection to start the traffic lights.”

He further stated that before the construction of the highway, already four lane sections exists on this stretch and traffic lights are installed which was operated by the MC itself.

“If the MC refuses to provide electricity connection than unwillingly we have to close the crossings made on the stretch between Bibiwala Chowk to Rose Garden Chowk”, he added.

When contacted, Dvender Joda, XEN, MC, said, “Firstly, we have not installed the traffic lights on the key intersections between Bibiwala Chowk to Rose Garden Chowk. Secondly, if they are ready to give them share on the revenue they generated at toll tax then only we will operate and maintain the traffic lights. This decision was taken by the senior authorities of the Municipal Corporation.”