Malfunctioning signals add to traffic woes for commuters

Ranchi: Commuters in Ranchi have been grappling with malfunctioning traffic lights across key intersections.
The traffic lights at busy intersections such as Jail Chowk, Karamtoli Chowk, Nucleus Mall, and Durga Soren Chowk often break down. At some points, traffic police direct traffic manually which further slows down traffic flow.
"At Jail Chowk and Karamtoli Chowk, the timer display is often missing. In some cases, one must wait for several minutes," said Ravi Sharma, a commuter who takes this route daily for work. Another commuter pointed out that the signal outside Nucleus Mall always remains non-functional. "It has been installed, but does not work," said Preeti, a college goer.
Authorities, however, gave a different explanation. Amit Kumar, the public relations officer of Ranchi Smart City, said the city's traffic signals operate in three different modes, all controlled from the Smart City command centre. "These modes are installed at every junction and are adjusted based on traffic needs," he said.
Traffic SP Kailash Karmali said, "Ranchi's signals primarily function in two modes, blinker mode and fixed Mode. Blinkers are used when traffic is light, while fixed Mode is active during peak hours. If vehicle density increases, signal durations are reduced to manage congestion," he said.
The city also has an adaptive traffic control system (ATCS), which is designed to dynamically adjust signals based on real-time traffic flow. However, its implementation remains unclear, and most signals continue to function manually. "For VIP movements, like the chief minister or governor's convoy, signals are overridden manually to ensure smooth passage," he said.
Despite these measures, several key locations in Ranchi still lack proper traffic control. At Durga Soren Chowk in Namkum, no traffic signals are in place, but police officers are deployed to regulate movement. Meanwhile, at Ghaghra Road in Doranda, neither signals nor traffic personnel are present, leaving commuters to navigate on their own.