Sometimes it’s not all that easy to have access to information. But then, there is something called the RTI, yes, your right to information and it’s often there where the magic happens. For instance, had it not been for a key RTI based on the city of Noida, we may never have come to know that no fewer than forty-five (45) signals are just not functioning in the city.
Now, let us just reflect on this for a second. There are eighty five traffic signals in Noida. But what is one to do when forty five of those, which, make no mistake is more than half of the existing signals, are not functioning?
Noida, make no mistake is no random city; it is a key contributor to the economic growth of the state of Uttar Pradesh. But it is only when the RTI query knocked the doors of the Noida Authority, that an answer was provided on the current working conditions of the traffic signals in the city.
But the above isn’t all; the maintenance contracts have only been made for 40 traffic lights around the city with two firms. The cost of these projects is at approximately INR 62 lakh. The being said, there’s a singular individual to whom one can credit this knowledge on Noida.
The said RTI query was made by a city-based Rights Activist by the name of Amit Gupta.
Moving on, here is what the New Indian Express reported on the story which is actually every bit strange as it is baffling:
The Noida Authority said it receives inputs about non-functional traffic lights from the Traffic Police and citizens of the city time to time and takes action accordingly.
“At present there are 85 traffic signals in Noida of which 45 are not working currently,” it stated.
“The proposal for maintenance of 45 non working traffic signals has been sent for the approval to higher authorities and waiting for the approval,” it added.
To conclude, it must be said that the city can do much better. Timely action especially on the front of critical infrastructure that governs our everyday mobility is a must.
Moreover, just come to think of it. Fact is that tens of hundreds commute everyday moving around in Noida whether for business or employment purposes. It’s a city of sectors, malls, shopping arcades, universities and multinationals as also of several key government undertakings. Can there be anything worse than being stuck in needless road chaos for little fault of one’s own? Are the authorities listening? How soon will the traffic lights in Noida be repaired?