The grand vision of a smart, efficient traffic management system in Nagpur stands shattered on the city's streets. Despite the ambitious Rs 197-crore Integrated Intelligent Traffic Management System (IITMS) project, the reality for daily commuters is one of chaos, confusion, and constant risk.
A Citywide System in Collapse
A detailed ground inspection reveals the alarming scale of the failure. Out of a total of 171 traffic signal junctions in the city, a mere 10 have been upgraded under the Keltron-led IITMS initiative. The remaining junctions, which form the critical arteries of Nagpur's daily commute, are suffering from severe neglect, malfunctioning equipment, and an apparent absence of accountability.
The problems are varied and dangerous. At numerous intersections, green signals fail to illuminate, forcing drivers to guess when to proceed. At others, red lights remain completely dead, creating perilous free-for-all scrambles, especially during peak hours. In a particularly baffling and hazardous glitch, some junctions have all three lights—red, yellow, and green—flashing simultaneously, throwing traffic into complete disarray and prompting risky maneuvers.
Darkness Deepens the Danger
The situation deteriorates further after sunset. Violating all standard norms, red lights blink at multiple locations instead of showing a steady amber light. A prime example is East High Court Road, where a blinking red signal has become routine, unnecessarily slowing traffic and causing hesitation. The breakdown is widespread:
- At the Traffic Park T-point, the green signal for vehicles coming from Alankar Talkies Square toward Bole Petrol Pump was non-functional for days, leaving motorists to choose between an endless wait or a dangerous gamble.
- Awasthi Nagar Square is a hotspot for near-misses, where the red light frequently goes off while the opposing green signal stays on.
- Similar critical failures plague University Library Square, Police Line Lake T-point, Nelson Square, Liberty Square, Smriti Talkies Chowk, Gaddigodam, Mangaldeep Square, and Netaji Subhash Chandra Chowk, where fused bulbs have rendered signals useless.
- At GPO Square and Raja Rani Square, a blinking red light instead of yellow forces drivers to wait pointlessly until they realize it's a technical fault.
Frustrated Commuters and Official Apathy
Nagpur's citizens are living with daily frustration and fear. Sandeep Rajput, a resident of Mankapur, stated that every morning feels like a gamble with their lives, with half the city's signals being untrustworthy. Prajakta Deshmukh from Ramdaspeth witnesses near-accidents regularly at Awasthi Nagar due to the chaotic signals. Auto-rickshaw driver Arif Shaikh voiced a common sentiment, demanding that the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) fix the signals first if they want rules to be followed.
Officials have admitted to systemic failures. A traffic police officer confirmed that maintenance has collapsed since the NMC took over the IITMS work. A senior NMC electrical official revealed that while the civic body allocates Rs 50 lakh annually for signal upkeep, the contractor has not been paid for the last 18 months due to pending bills and documentation issues. This financial paralysis directly translates into the physical decay seen on the roads.
The stark contrast between Nagpur's promise of a smart traffic future and the perilous present on its streets exposes a critical failure in urban governance and project implementation, putting the safety of thousands at risk every day.
