Traffic Signals To Be Removed For Ease Of Travelling, Says Odisha H&UD Minister

Bhubaneswar: Traffic signals will be removed to ease traffic congestion, and alternatives like overbridge or approach/service roads will be planned to streamline vehicular movement, Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Krushana Chandra Mahapatra said on Tuesday.

Speaking to mediapersons, the minister said that department-level discussions are being held to implement the changes. “People returning home from office often get stuck at traffic signals for hours. They also start two hours early from home to be able to reach offices in time. We will look into alternatives to manage the vehicular flow and relieve commuters of long wait at an intersection for the red signal to turn green. To ensure ease in travelling, a plan will be prepares to remove bottlenecks at places that witness traffic jams,” he said.

Experts, however, opined that initially steps should instead be taken to remove encroachments on the roads and streamline parking of vehicles as availability of space can prove to be an impediment for building over-bridges.