Coimbatore: The road safety committee has handed over 51 traffic signals to NGO Uyir, which has been maintaining 11 traffic signals in the city.
Private firms were maintaining 14 traffic signals on Avinashi Road, 10 on Mettupalayam Road, four each on the stretch from Trichy Road to Sathy Road. The city police had given the firms the right to display advertisements on the signals. The firms had taken electricity connection in their names and had been paying the bills every month for the signals.
After the Madras high court directed the state government not to renew or give fresh licences to erect such hoardings, the firms stopped to maintain the signals and did not pay the electricity bills.
Tangedco officials were planning to disconnect power to the signals when the city municipal corporation agreed to pay the amount.
As the city traffic police lacked funds to maintain the signals, the issue was discussed at a recent road safety meeting held at the collectorate and the members of Uyir agreed to maintain 51 signals. The NGO requested the committee chairman, Coimbatore collector K Rajamani, to let them display the name of the NGO on the signals. The road safety committee gave consent to do so two days ago, sources said.
The corporation has promised to bear the electricity expenses for the signals. “As the NGO has a team to maintain traffic signals, they will be able to ensure round-the-clock operation of the signals,” said a police officer.