Traffic light malfunctioning can pose significant dangers on the roads. When a traffic light malfunctions, it can cause confusion among drivers, especially during peak traffic hours. Without clear guidance from the lights, drivers may be unsure when to proceed or yield, leading to a higher risk of accidents and collisions. This seems to be a constant problem in the many crowded areas of Ranchi including Karamtoli chowk, area around Nucleus mall and Sujata chowk.
Nupur Sinha, a schoolteacher from Lalpur Ranchi, claimed that recently, as she was travelling from Overbridge towards Firayalal Chowk, she observed a green signal at the Sujata crossroads. However, when she continued, she noticed the red light had also turned on while the green light was still on.
"Highly confused whether to proceed ahead with the green light or stop because of the red light, I applied brakes and tried to turn right, but traffic was coming from that side so I had to wait. I was able to take the right turn only after the green light turned on. It was so confusing," she said.
Apart from this, people are also facing other problems when it comes to the main roads in Ranchi. Due to the construction of the flyover there is no way for commoners to cross the roads and they are obliged to pass from narrow spaces to travel around. “The flyover construction must not interfere with people’s daily activity. It’s annoying to cross such roads and this situation gets worse during the day”, said Ankit Singh, a 24 year old resident from Ranchi.
A doctor from Purulia Road named AK Rai claims that he encounters delays every day at Karamtoli Chowk due to commuters blocking the left side of the road in order to proceed straight towards Morabadi or right towards Bariatu. He says,
"The traffic policemen just stand there, but they do nothing to keep the left passage free so that commuters could easily take a left turn. Once when I even requested a policeman to keep the left side free, to which he expressed his helplessness. He said that the road is too narrow for maintaining lanes. This left me speechless.”
A young man who rides a motorbike, usually from Ashok Nagar to the Main Road, warned that road rage would soon spread throughout Ranchi if some decisive action is not taken soon enough to improve the city's traffic situation. He said it's very frustrating to ride a bike here in the state capital and he wonders how irritating it must be for car drivers.
Although Ranchi is the state capital, there are frequently no traffic officers present at crossings before dawn or after eight o'clock. Even though there are police patrol cars parked along the route, they show no interest in controlling the flow of traffic.
The writer is a student of BA Journalism/English, KJC, Bangalore