FAISALABAD: Solar-powered traffic signals have been installed at 17 crossings of the city which will be made operational next week.

Chief Traffic Officer Rana Masoom told Dawn on Tuesday the system would help wardens check traffic violations rather than traffic regulation.

He said such signals would be increased with the passage of time as the system was cost effective and free from outages.

He said earlier several signals had died owing to power fluctuation or brownouts. Regarding security of the batteries, he said batteries of the system had been placed underground that would also increase their life and a special lock system had been put in place.

Earlier, a meeting at the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) office was briefed about the new signals. FDA Chief Engineer Muhammad Khalid said batteries of solar panels had been stolen from Chenab Chowk which delayed the launch of solar-powered signals.

He said now the installation of the panels had been completed and the panels would be handed over to the deputy district officer.

He said batteries of the panels could be approached by traffic wardens and maintenance staff only.

WARNING: Regional Police Officer Ahsan Tufail expressed his concern over the poor performance of Jhang, Chiniot and Toba Tek Singh police chiefs to check drug-peddlers and rustlers.

Reviewing their one-week performance, Mr Tufail said the police heads of Faisalabad and other three districts must launch a rigorous campaign against drug-pushers and rustlers.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2014