Rs 6.5 lakh per month on electricity for traffic signals in Delhi

An amount of nearly Rs 6.5 lakh is incurred every month on electricity consumption for traffic signals/blinkers installed in the national capital, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said that traffic signals in Delhi are run by electricity. "An amount of nearly Rs 6.5 lakh (approximately) is incurred in a month on electricity consumption for traffic signals/blinkers installed in NCT of Delhi," he said in a reply to a written question.

Asked whether the government proposes to run traffic signals in the country through solar energy to conserve electricity, he said, "There is no specific scheme for traffic signals under consideration of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to run traffic signals through solar energy."

"Neither Ministry of Home Affairs nor Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued any direction to the states in this regard as the 'Police' and 'Public Order' is a state subject as per the seventh schedule to the Constitution of India," he added.

According to Delhi Traffic Police, there are 857 traffic signals and 401 traffic blinkers across Delhi for ensuring smooth flow of traffic and safety of pedestrians and other road users.