Traffic signals were not working on the key Tilak Road junction at Alka Talkies Chowk on Friday
Pune: Testing of smart meters and stoppage of power supply to streetlights caused a sudden disruption to around 50 traffic signals in different areas under Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Friday. Following complaints from the traffic police department, a delegation of PMC officials visited the MSEDCL office and reported the incident.
They approached Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to restore the supply and restart the signals, according to PMC officials. Their officials wanted to test the impact when supply to these poles is stopped during daytime,” said Pramod Unde, superintending engineer (electrical). Asked about claims in a widely circulated social media post that PMC did not clear its electricity bill dues, leading to the power disconnection, Unde said those claims were false. Adequate funds were given in advance, so the issue of non-payment of bills does not arise,” he said.
“The power supply to traffic signals and streetlights is combined in many locations. A private agency in charge of supplying power to streetlights disconnected it. “The bills are prepaid. As per PMC and traffic police officials, the traffic signals were not functioning during the day, which led to major traffic disruptions. The PMC’s electrical department shoulders the responsibility of providing streetlights on roads across Pune city, managing the streetlights, and carrying out their maintenance and repairs. It also handles the installation and maintenance of traffic control lights at city intersections in coordination with the additional commissioner and the traffic police.