Despite spending as much as Rs 10 lakh per annum on the maintenance of traffic-light timers in the city,commuters continue to be inconvenienced as a majority of these timers do not function effectively. The traffic police department has passed the buck to the Engineering department,which,they claim are supposed to maintain the traffic lights and timers. The timers outside Hotel Taj,at the road dividing Sectors 16 and 17,and Labour Chowk in Sector 20 are among the 12 timers that are completely defunct. In addition,there are about 60 timers installed at various light points in the city that,on an average,go blank for 8 to 10 days a month,said a traffic policeman. At places like the roundabout near the Sector-20 Gurdwara,the timers have been out of order for months,added the traffic official. We have been deployed here for the past several months and have never seen the timers working, added the official. Superintendent of Police (Traffic) H S Doon said,Whenever we come to know about non-functional timers,we immediately inform the Engineering department to carry out the rectification. I will personally look into the matter and follow up on the requests of rectification. For commuters,this only adds to the existing woes. If used properly,timers could save many barrels of precious oil for our country. But with no timer,we never get to know about the time left for the next change, said Vipul Sharma,an executive with the ICICI Bank. Rahul Sehgal,a student of DAV,said,Without timers,it is difficult to decide on what to do while approaching the signal gun the engine or apply the brakes. Executive Engineer (Electrical Division Number 3) Ranjit Singh,however,maintained: There may be a minor problem with the system. We will look into it and get it repaired as soon as possible.
