The Times of India                09.01.2014 

Nine new traffic signals to be set up

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has identified nine locations for setting up traffic signals across the city in view of the forthcoming Kumbh mela.

The NMC has plans to put up the traffic signals during the next financial year and a provision of around Rs 1 crore is to be made for the purpose in the budget for the fiscal year 2014-15.

Of the nine proposed traffic signals, three each are to be set up in Nashik Road and Nashik West divisions of the civic body, two in Panchavati division and one in Satpur division.

Speaking to TOI, an NMC official said, "We are planning to set up nine new traffic signals in view of the forthcoming Kumbh mela. All the proposed traffic signals will be operational before commencement of the mega event. We have identified nine locations across the city where these traffic signals are needed considering the flow of traffic. Accordingly, the places where signals are to be set up are at Shivajinagar in Jail Road area, the square behind Anuradha theatre and Sinnar Phata square in Nashik Road division, Old Gangapur Naka, the square near City Centre Mall and Yeolekar Mala in Nashik West division, Tarwalanagar Chowk and RTO Corner in Panchavati division and ABB Circle in Satpur division."

"The work of setting up the proposed traffic signals is to be included in the budget of the NMC for the next financial year," he added.

Nashik is one of the four cities where Kumbh mela is held every 12 years. The next Kumbh mela is to be held in 2015. Around 70 lakh people and three lakh sadhus are expected to visit the city during the mega event. Therefore, monitoring the traffic will be a challenge for the police administration as well as the civic administration. In this backdrop, the NMC has also started preparation of traffic measures that can be taken during Kumbh mela.