Bhopal: With summer intensifying and temperatures rising steadily, long wait times at traffic signals are becoming a major concern for commuters in the city. Particularly affected are two-wheeler riders, who are forced to endure the scorching heat during extended red-light phases, often leading to violations and increasing the risk of accidents.
There has been a continuous rise in the number of challans issued by ITMS cameras fitted at 29 locations, including major junctions, during the past four months. Several key intersections, such as Jawahar Chowk Square, Platinum Plaza Square, and Chunabhatti Square, are witnessing frequent instances of red light jumping. Commuters say that prolonged cycle times at signals make it difficult to wait under the blazing sun, especially during peak afternoon hours.
“The signal takes too long to turn green. Standing in direct sunlight becomes unbearable, so many people end up crossing before the light changes,” said Rajendra Verma, a resident of the Kolar area. Adding to the problem is the absence of CCTV cameras at some intersections, which reduces the fear of enforcement and encourages violations. Traffic experts warn that such behaviour significantly raises the chances of collisions, particularly at busy crossings.
Traffic police officials acknowledged the issue and said measures are being considered to address it. “We are monitoring signal timings and will review cycle durations where necessary. Enforcement will also be strengthened to curb violations,” said Additional DCP (Traffic) Basant Kaul. He added that during peak hours, traffic cops are deployed at signals where CCTV cameras are not installed to control violations.
Traffic experts suggested that along with optimising signal timings, installing more surveillance cameras and providing shaded waiting areas could help improve compliance and ensure commuter safety during extreme weather conditions. Commuter Rizwan Khan noted that Vallabh Bhawan Rotary, the square near MP Nagar police station, is like a maze. Half a dozen roads meet at the busy square, making it difficult for commuters to pass through. He said, “Many times, commuters have to wait for two or three count-cycle times of traffic signals to pass through the square as the volume of traffic remains so high. It becomes unbearable for two-wheeler riders to wait in the scorching sun.”
A senior police officer admitted that the count-cycle-time of traffic signals in busy areas is quite high. The signals remain red for longer durations, like 90 to 120 seconds. However, the green signal cycle time given for vehicles to pass is quite low, like 15 to 30 seconds. As a result, many vehicles get stuck at the signals, and commuters have to wait for two or more red signal cycles to pass a busy square. Some vehicles overspeed and jump the signals, but there are no cops deployed to check it.
In April alone, 34,440 challans were issued for red light violations, highlighting the severity of the issue. Authorities are now considering measures to reduce wait times and improve enforcement to ensure safer roads during the summer months.
