Traffic signals still dysfunctional in Mardan

MARDAN: Even after more than six years, the traffic signals installed in the Awami National Party and Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government are yet to start functioning.

Former chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti had approved a project in 2013 to install traffic signals at different squares in Mardan city to regulate the flow of traffic. However, even after over six years these signals are still not functioning. Later the previous government also allocated Rs8m for the operationalization and improvement of the traffic signals. The district government also allocated millions of rupees for the traffic signals. However, despite all this, the traffic signals installed at different chowks in the city are still dysfunctional. When contacted, a senior official said more than Rs1m were required for the maintenance of the signals. He added that traffic police in Mardan had closed the unnecessary U-turns in the city and drew zebra-crossing at a number of roundabouts to facilitate the pedestrians.