I received a fax from Dr S.K. Bhagra writes, “There should be a periodical - twice a week if not daily – inspection of bulbs put up in traffic signals. In our colony, Shalimar Bagh, at the Jhule Lal Marg T-point near BN (Poorvi) Block, the green signal bulbs are fused for the last one and a half months. With the result there are lot of traffic jams at this point causing chaos.”

Dr Bhagra, the problem of fused traffic lights is not only at Shalimar Bagh, but also at lot of other places in Delhi. I agree Delhi traffic police should be vigilant enough to check them but here I would again say Delhi drivers are also at fault. They know that a particular light is not working; still they will take advantage of it and will jump the red light signal on the pretext that ‘I thought that all the lights are not working’.

I think this attitude should change. Lot of times I have seen people complaining about the notices sent by cops saying that ‘I have been fined for stopping ahead the STOP line, whereas there’s no stop line painted there’. I don’t know why people have such an attitude. There can be several reasons why the line has disappeared from the intersection, but as a good driver it doesn’t take time to make an imaginary line on the intersection on a red light and stop.

Regarding the maintenance of traffic signals I would like to tell you that the Delhi Traffic Police takes the help of two private agencies to manage traffic lights for them. When a signal is not working properly or one of its bulbs are fused, the traffic personnel informs the concerned agency which then undertakes the repairing work. Presently, there are 635 traffic signals and 489 blinkers to assist traffic police in the control and regulation of traffic. So next time if there is any traffic signal which is not working, you can just inform them by calling the 24-hour Traffic Helpline @ 23378888. The Delhi Traffic Police should also see to it that periodic inspection of traffic signals are undertaken.