Earlier, the city had two solar powered traffic signals at Canada Corner and Mahabal Chowk, M G Road. The third one was installed at ITI junction, Satpur, four days ago. The solar panelled signals operate round the clock.

The solar panels will be used during power cuts. “This is just a backup
in case of power failure. Gradually, we will install this system in all
signals in the city. Last year we installed solar panels for signals at
Canada Corner and Mahabal Chowk. Solar signals will function during
rains also,” said D B Vanmali, deputy engineer of NMC’s electrical
department.

A solar panel provides backup for six to eight
hours. The panel is located on top of the signal for optimum exposure to
sunlight. A solar charger regulates voltage coming out of the solar
panel, charging the battery.

Vanmali said that the solar panels
were bought from Nucleonics, a Pune-based company. The project costs Rs
95,000. The NMC officials said that traffic congestion will be avoided
once busy areas of the city get solar panelled signals.

Nashik

Black out of traffic signals during power cuts is to be a thing of past
soon as the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to install
solar powered traffic signals across the city.

The city had two solar powered traffic signals – at Canada Corner and Mahabal Chowk, M G Road. The third one was intalled at ITI
junction, Satpur four days ago. The signals will be fully operational
round the clock with solar panels installed above the signals.

The solar panels will, however, not be used solely for the operating the
signals but only in case the power goes off.”This is just as a backup
in case of power failure. Gradually, we will implement this in all the
signals of the city. Last year we had installed these solar panels above
the signals of Canada Corner and Mahabal Chowk,” informed deputy
engineer of the Nashik Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) electrical
department, D B Vanmali. He said that the solar signals would also be
able to function during rainy season.

Powered by 230 volts this
solar panel would have a back-up of 6-8 hours without electricity. A
solar panel located on top of the signal converts sunlight into
electrical power. A solar charger regulates the voltage coming out of
the solar panel which is used to charge the battery.

Vanmali
said that the solar panels have been bought from a Pune-based solar
company Nucleonics. The project is executed for a cost of Rs 95,000.

NMC officials said that with the three solar powered signals, traffic
would be streamlined by preventing haphazard driving. They said that
once the major signals of the city get the solar traffic signals, lot of
congestion could be avoided.