Cops launch traffic audit to find blink-&-you-miss-them signals in Kolkata
Times of India | 28 July 2025
Kolkata: The Kolkata Traffic Police has launched its audit of traffic signals, following multiple complaints from motorists and the police personnel on duty on the roads. Each of the 26 guards is identifying problems, including performance, visibility, CCTV footage quality attached to them, and signal timers. A dedicated agency will then rectify the issues.
Among the top concerns are visibility and performance. According to several motorists, the problem of visibility is not limited to the signals being covered with only hoardings or tree branches. These signals malfunction especially during the rains. "Often while one colour light is visible, the other is not. We received maximum complaints of the orange lights," said an officer from a central Kolkata traffic guard.
"At certain places, like on JL Nehru Road and SN Banerjee Road, the police have drawn up stop lines right, where the signal is. Thus, when you stop at the stop line, the signal is not even visible," said Tanmoy Hazra, a lawyer by profession.
According to senior officers at Lalbazar, the cops met the agencies, who received contracts for the upkeep of these signal posts.
"In these meetings, it was decided that sergeants will analyse the problems at each traffic light, after which the agency will work on them in a time-bound manner. The phased work in this regard also commenced," explained a senior officer. Sources from Lalbazar indicate that the city has various corridors (in police terminology). Police officials are sending their vehicles through different corridors on different days to check if vehicles are unnecessarily waiting too long at any signal. They are also assessing how long it takes to pass through each corridor and checking if there is coordination between each signal.
According to a police official, the automated traffic signal system is crucial. However, to operate it correctly, careful attention must be paid to time allocation. At present, a timer is set to determine when and for how long each light will be on, operating according to a specified schedule. However, during processions, gatherings, or VIP movements, traffic police officers adjust the signal system as needed. Currently, the entire automated signal system is controlled from the traffic control room in Lalbazar, in coordination with the traffic guards. "These timer settings too are being reviewed as per the larger plan," confirmed a top official.