ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) on Friday said a majority of signals installed at different intersections were out of order, hindering the working of the ITP.

There are total 83 signals out of which only 40pc are functional and the remaining 60pc are in a dilapidated condition, a senior official of the ITP told this news agency.

He said despite repeated requests the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had not taken any step to fix the faulty signals.

The official said the CDA was supposed to ensure timely maintenance of the traffic infrastructure and the ITP had the mandate to implement traffic laws and sensitise the motorists about them.

To a question, he said the ITP was holding awareness workshops for motorists but facing difficulties to ensure the enforcement of rules in the absence of well-maintained infrastructure.

An official from the traffic engineering wing of the CDA admitted that the ITP had highlighted the issue and a proposal had been sent to the engineering and maintenance wing which forwarded it to high-ups for final approval.

However, he contested the number of non-functional signals given by the ITP and said there were total 104 signals installed in Zone-I out of which 75 were working, 16 out of order and 13 had been closed due to certain reasons.

He said since the bifurcation of the CDA following the establishment of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), both organisations had been at loggerheads over management affairs.

Some grants of the CDA are yet to be released by the finance division, he added. He said the CDA was still paying salaries of the MCI employees and its utility bills.

Suggesting a sustainable solution to the financial issue, he said the authorities concerned should resume collection of toll tax to generate income and carry out necessary repair work.

Meanwhile, the residents of the capital also expressed concerns over the non-operational signals and urged the authorities concerned to repair them.

Shahbaz Satti, a resident of G-/7-2, complained that a number of crossing points in the capital were still without signals and traffic personnel.

Another resident, Anwar Abbasi, said he had lodged complaints about the non-functional signals but no action was being taken.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2019