Jaipur: Just days after the devastating Harmada road accident that claimed 13 lives, Jaipur's road safety initiatives have come under scrutiny as newly painted and installed signages at over 250 traffic signals across the city were found to be defective.
The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) and the traffic police had launched an urgent signage campaign following the incident, yet these flaws have raised serious questions about the execution and monitoring of this critical safety measure.
During an inspection by TOI on Monday, it was revealed that several traffic signals either have a stop line but no zebra crossing, or a zebra crossing but no stop line. For instance, at the junction near Ram Nagar metro station and near Choti Chaupar inside the Walled City, zebra crossings have been painted below the stop lines. This means that if vehicles stop correctly at a red signal, the rear of the queue will block the zebra crossing, endangering pedestrians.
“It appears that the various administrations responsible for traffic management are not at all serious about implementing pedestrian safety measures. The concerned department should rectify the situation immediately,” said Mahesh Chand Dhaka, a resident of Sodala.
Traffic officials stated that the JDA is responsible for painting and placing signage at intersections. Meanwhile, JDA officers acknowledged that some signs are faulty and promised to address them promptly. “Recently, when we were tasked with conducting awareness programs at a few crossings, we also noticed these issues. We will send a letter to the JDA highlighting the problems,” said Neha Khullar, executive director of Muskaan Foundation For Road Safety.
Broader Implications
This incident underscores the need for better coordination between agencies and stricter quality control in road safety projects. Pedestrians remain vulnerable, and such lapses could lead to more accidents.
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About the Author
Arpit Basu: With over 15 years of experience in print and digital media, Arpit Basu has covered aviation, transport, crime, civic, and human interest issues. His sting operation on the pilferage of Aviation Turbine Fuel in Kolkata received widespread acclaim. He received a letter of appreciation for reporting during the 2013 Phalin cyclone in Odisha and has been trained by Google and Facebook in fact-checking.
