Repeated failures of the traffic signal system at Jakat Naka in Virar West are disrupting movement at one of the area’s busiest junctions, leaving motorists and pedestrians to navigate conflicting traffic flows without clear right-of-way rules.
According to a report by Loksatta – Vasai-Virar, four busy roads converge at the junction, making signal control important for managing the rising volume of vehicles. The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation installed the signal system after taking the junction’s traffic and vehicle movement into account.
However, the system has reportedly been malfunctioning repeatedly because of a lack of maintenance. The signal had earlier remained non-functional continuously for a week, but no permanent corrective measure has been implemented, the report said.
When the signal is working, vehicles from each approach receive a defined sequence for entering and crossing the junction. This helps regulate movement and reduces conflict between traffic streams. When the system stops, vehicles from all directions attempt to move forward at the same time, resulting in severe congestion and confusion.
The disruption also creates difficulties for pedestrians crossing the junction. The report said that some motorists take advantage of the lack of signal control and attempt to move through the intersection hurriedly. This raises the risk of collisions between vehicles and of serious accidents, particularly at a junction where four traffic flows meet.
The recurring breakdown points to a maintenance problem rather than a one-time interruption. While the report does not identify the maintenance contractor, the duration of the earlier failure and the continued recurrence indicate that restoring the signal temporarily has not resolved the operational issue.
Residents and road users have called for immediate repairs and a permanent solution from the administration. The report did not provide a municipal timeline for restoration or details of any replacement, repair contract or temporary traffic-management arrangement at Jakat Naka.
