Nellore: After years of public outcry and mounting traffic woes, Nellore city would see the return of traffic signals at seven major junctions.
The municipal corporation, in coordination with the city police, has approved funds and awarded the contract to an agency to install the new system.
Municipal Commissioner OY Nandan confirmed to Deccan Chronicle that the new signals would be installed at the junction near district police office, KVR petrol bunk centre, RTC bus stand, Nehru statue (Madras bus stand), Kanaka Mahal junction, Muthukur gate circle (near Anam Venkat Reddy statue) and Ramalingapuram Centre.
For years, the traffic police tried various experiments to manage the city’s unruly traffic, but these yielded no lasting result.
The earlier set of traffic lights, once installed at major intersections, ended up as decorative fixtures after the police decided to switch them off. Junctions were closed, forcing motorists to take long detours and U-turns, even as petrol and diesel prices soared.
The policy caused headache to drivers of heavy vehicles such as buses and lorries, which struggled to maneuver at designated U-turn points, often bringing traffic to a standstill.
Frustration grew louder at hotspots like the Atmakur Bus Stand, Muthukur Junction, Gandhi Bomma Centre and Nehru Statue. Previous administrations defended the removal of signals, arguing that uninterrupted traffic flow eliminated waiting times. They also claimed that operating signals required posting of four traffic constables per junction—resources they preferred to deploy elsewhere. That stance has now shifted.
“Nearly 60 per cent of the civil works are complete. We’ve received the signal lights and are awaiting the poles. Once installed, these signals will ensure smooth traffic movement without the chaos that we’ve experienced in recent years,” Nandan said.
