S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Traffic signal lights have not been installed in Sylhet city for the last 22 years. In this age of digitalization, analogue or manual signal of traffic police are being used in Sylhet city to control vehicular traffic movement.
This is the usual phenomenon, witnessed by Sylhet city dwellers for the last 22 years. Although there has been commitment from Finance Minister A.M.A Muhith, the traffic signal light system has not yet been developed in Sylhet city where the back-dated traffic police’s hand signal is still governing the vehicular traffic movement in Sylhet city. But for the two consecutive terms, Awami League-led Grand Alliance Government has been in power but no signal lighting system for controlling vehicular traffic has not been introduced in Sylhet City’s key-points particularly at the busiest Ambarkhana, Bandar Bazar, Surma Market point, Zinda Bazar Crossing, Chowhatta Crossing, Nayasarak Crossing, Housing Estate Crossing, Rikabi Bazar Crossing, Sheikghat Crossing, Tilagor Crossing in Sylhet city.
According to a reliable source, during 1996-97 financial year Tk. 30 lak was spent under “The Secondary Tower Development Project”. Later modern lights were also introduced at many crossing but now their existence can hardly be traced out.
The source also informed this correspondent that in 1990, there were a priority based project including installation of traffic signal lighting system. But in absence of maintenance, these modern lighting system has not been introduced. Literarily, Sylhet is called ‘Second London’ for which as per priority basis, Sylhet Should trail behind capital City Dhaka and Port City of Chittagong, the business Capital of Bangladesh. With the passage of time, almost all the cities and towns have been developed. But the traffic light signal less Sylhet indicates a major fall-back in Sylhet City. But both Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) and Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) held each other responsible for the absence road traffic lighting system in Sylhet city. Some police officers opine, for controlling vehicular traffic, signal lighting system is necessary. But the responsibility to install traffic signal lighting system bestows upon SCC.
Some Sylhet City dwellers opine, before 22 years traffic signal lights were installed at important six points in Sylhet City areas. But only for intransigence and negligence, these lights have been going to be extinct. It has been learnt that for the traffic signal lights and street lights renovation and development taka one crore was allotted by SCC. But in the budget of 2017-18 financial year, no budgetary allocation for traffic signal light and street lights has been earmarked by SCC, for which traffic system in Sylhet has almost subsided down.
While visiting the spot, it has been found that only steel poles for traffic signal lights are visible at Naiorpool point, but the traffic signal lights at Surma Markets Crossing, Rikabi Bazar Crossing, Chowhatta Crossing, Nayasarak Crossing and Amborkhana Crossing have not been seen.
When contacted, SMP Commissioner Gulam Kibria told this Correspondent that traffic police has to use manual signals but if hand is not put down the vehicular traffic remains stand still. The SMP Commissioner added he will communicate with SCC authority for the installation traffic signal lights.
SCC Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury told this correspondent that budgetary allocation will be earmarked during upcoming budget announcement. He added that roads in the city have been expanded for which light posts have been removed for the time being. The Mayor ascertained with the completion of expansion works street lights and signal lights will be reinstalled.
Traffic signal lights have not been installed in Sylhet city for the last 22 years. In this age of digitalization, analogue or manual signal of traffic police are being used in Sylhet city to control vehicular traffic movement.
This is the usual phenomenon, witnessed by Sylhet city dwellers for the last 22 years. Although there has been commitment from Finance Minister A.M.A Muhith, the traffic signal light system has not yet been developed in Sylhet city where the back-dated traffic police’s hand signal is still governing the vehicular traffic movement in Sylhet city. But for the two consecutive terms, Awami League-led Grand Alliance Government has been in power but no signal lighting system for controlling vehicular traffic has not been introduced in Sylhet City’s key-points particularly at the busiest Ambarkhana, Bandar Bazar, Surma Market point, Zinda Bazar Crossing, Chowhatta Crossing, Nayasarak Crossing, Housing Estate Crossing, Rikabi Bazar Crossing, Sheikghat Crossing, Tilagor Crossing in Sylhet city.
According to a reliable source, during 1996-97 financial year Tk. 30 lak was spent under “The Secondary Tower Development Project”. Later modern lights were also introduced at many crossing but now their existence can hardly be traced out.
The source also informed this correspondent that in 1990, there were a priority based project including installation of traffic signal lighting system. But in absence of maintenance, these modern lighting system has not been introduced. Literarily, Sylhet is called ‘Second London’ for which as per priority basis, Sylhet Should trail behind capital City Dhaka and Port City of Chittagong, the business Capital of Bangladesh. With the passage of time, almost all the cities and towns have been developed. But the traffic light signal less Sylhet indicates a major fall-back in Sylhet City. But both Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) and Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) held each other responsible for the absence road traffic lighting system in Sylhet city. Some police officers opine, for controlling vehicular traffic, signal lighting system is necessary. But the responsibility to install traffic signal lighting system bestows upon SCC.
Some Sylhet City dwellers opine, before 22 years traffic signal lights were installed at important six points in Sylhet City areas. But only for intransigence and negligence, these lights have been going to be extinct. It has been learnt that for the traffic signal lights and street lights renovation and development taka one crore was allotted by SCC. But in the budget of 2017-18 financial year, no budgetary allocation for traffic signal light and street lights has been earmarked by SCC, for which traffic system in Sylhet has almost subsided down.
While visiting the spot, it has been found that only steel poles for traffic signal lights are visible at Naiorpool point, but the traffic signal lights at Surma Markets Crossing, Rikabi Bazar Crossing, Chowhatta Crossing, Nayasarak Crossing and Amborkhana Crossing have not been seen.
When contacted, SMP Commissioner Gulam Kibria told this Correspondent that traffic police has to use manual signals but if hand is not put down the vehicular traffic remains stand still. The SMP Commissioner added he will communicate with SCC authority for the installation traffic signal lights.
SCC Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury told this correspondent that budgetary allocation will be earmarked during upcoming budget announcement. He added that roads in the city have been expanded for which light posts have been removed for the time being. The Mayor ascertained with the completion of expansion works street lights and signal lights will be reinstalled.
