Jammu, Aug 21: The fate of much hyped plan to install traffic lights in Jammu city still hangs in balance as ‘bureaucratic interference’ has almost led to derailment of the proposed project envisaged to give city a modern electronic traffic management system.
 Sources said that on the directions of Urban Development Department, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has invited new Expression of Interest (EoI), overlooking the earlier process initiated by the Traffic police, which has selected four companies for the installation of the lights on Built, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis. Sources said that without giving any reason, government has put the entire survey carried out by the traffic police into cold storage, while the JMC is carrying out new exercise, pushing the entire plan further backward.
 Pertinent to mention here, that Traffic police has invited (EoI) on February 2 for installation of automated electronic traffic signal system in the state on BOOT basis. The process was completed by it in May this year with selected companies asked to give final presentation so that the work is started on the project.
 However, much to the surprise of everyone, the JMC issued a notification on July 8, 2011 inviting fresh tenders for survey, design, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of automated electronic traffic signal system at 32 places in the city.
 “Nobody knows why new tenders were invited by overruling the earlier one. It has even surprised the officials involved in the entire project. This is the clear example of lack of planning and synergy between different organs of the state government", said a source.
 When contacted, Commissioner JMC, A K Sawhney said, "We received the directions from the Administrative Department to install the traffic lights at the identified locations. We are carrying out the orders”. None of the officials from the Housing and Urban Development Department was available for the comment over the issue.
 A senior official from the Transport police said that their efforts were never taken seriously by the government constituted committee. “We attended last meeting in May and submitted the report to the Urban Development department, since then we heard nothing about it”, said he .
 The plan was initiated in 2005, when traffic department had submitted a proposal to the government. Later about two years back  administration had also constituted a task force which had sent a  report to the Home department and it was decided to implement the project on the basis of Built, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) mode.
 As the bureaucratic lethargy continues to create hurdles in way of the different projects, the traffic scenario continues to be grim in the city.

IDENTIFIED LOCATIONS
MAIN locations identified for the installation of projects include Satwari Chowk, Main stop Gandhi Nagar, Green Belt Gandhi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar Hospital Turning, Bikram Chowk, Jewel Chowk, K C Crossing, Shakuntala Crossing, Medical College Chowk, Ambphalla Chowk, Canal Head Crossing, Bakshi Nagar Pulli, Talab Tillo Chowk, Panjthirthi-Bypass Point, Library Chowk and Parade Chowk.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST