Traffic signal posts at a crossing in the Rajshahi city reamain unuseable for about a year. The photograph was taken recently. — New Age photo

The traffic signal lights on the Rajshahi city roads remain out of order for about a year and the derelict traffic signal system paves the way for massive traffic jam in the city’s busy areas and for frequent traffic accidents, say the city’s traffic police.
The traffic signal lights and posts have completely become useable and broken about a year ago and the city corporation did to carry on renovation yet, complained the police.
The Rajshahi City Traffic Police officials said earlier RCC pointed 30 crossings important and risky for road accident and traffic congestion.
The corporation had set up fully automated traffic signal post at 21 places of the risky points: C&B crossing, Lakshmipur crossing, Rail Gate crossing, Saheb Bazar Zero Point, Manichattar crossing, Talaimary crossing, Medical College gate, Baharampur Bypass road, court station crossing, Kashiadanga New Road crossing, Kashiadanga Old Road crossing, Utsab Cinema Hall crossing, Sagarpara crossing, Serial station crossing, Zia International Children Park crossing and Naodapara crossing, confirmed RCC officials. 
Ashraful Haque, superintendent engineer of RCC, said aiming to free the city dwellers from traffic jam these signal posts were set up in three phases.
In 1994, expending Tk 36 lakh, the RCC authorities established traffic signal posts at the six busy crossings, namely C&B crossing, Lakshmipur crossing, Talamary crossing, Rail Gate crossing, Saheb Bazar Zero Point and Manichattar crossing.
In 2002, signal posts were set up at Medical College gate, Baharampur Bypass road, court station crossing, Kashiadanga New Road crossing and Kashiadanga Old Road crossing at Tk 49 lakh.
In 2004, expending Tk 55 Lakh the city corporation authorities established signal posts at the rest of the places, but at present all the signals were out of order.
The inspector of Rajshahi City Traffic Police, Rayhan Ali, told New Age that they informed the problem to RCC and the authorities assured them of taking actions as soon as possible.
He, however, said that the city corporation failed to start renovation as it had been carrying on construction works of gas pipe lines across the city roads.
After ending the construction works, the city corporation would start the automated traffic control system in collaboration with the traffic police, he added.
Ashraful Haque told New Age that they had already completed the gas pipeline installation and road expansion works would be finished within a few months and then they would repair the signal lights.