Silchar: Nearly 18 months after the launch of the Rs 3.5-crore Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) project, aimed at addressing Silchar’s worsening traffic congestion through technology, the initiative has made little headway, drawing criticism from residents and civil society organisations.The project was inaugurated on Feb 6, 2025, at Capital Point, with the administration promising that all 13 major traffic intersections in the town would be brought under the smart traffic network within two months. The system was expected to improve road safety, streamline traffic flow and automate enforcement of traffic rules.However, apart from the installation of a few steel poles and the recent placement of some traffic signal lights at Sadarghat, the project remains largely incomplete.Sanctioned under the technical wing of the housing and urban affairs department, the ITMS project includes the installation of CCTV cameras, automatic traffic signals, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, red-light violation detection systems and an e-challan mechanism. A central command and control centre was also proposed to monitor traffic movement across the town and automatically detect violations.At the inauguration, the then Silchar MLA and officials described the project as a step towards modernising traffic management. Officials said the system would reduce congestion, accidents, pollution and traffic violations. On the ground, however, little has changed.The delay has triggered resentment among residents and civic organisations.Greater Silchar Citizens’ Forum general secretary Sadhan Purkayastha alleged that despite the steady increase in the number of vehicles, the project remained stalled for over a year. He said roads excavated for installation of the infrastructure were yet to be properly restored, adding to commuters’ inconvenience. Purkayastha urged Assam minister Kaushik Rai to intervene and ensure early completion of the project.Social activist and Congress leader Sanjib Roy also expressed concern over the prolonged delay, saying it was unfortunate that a taxpayer-funded public project remained non-functional for so long. He urged the administration to review the progress of the project and complete the remaining work within a fixed timeframe.With the project still far from completion nearly a year and a half after its launch, questions are being raised over the delay and whether the initiative will be able to fulfil its promise of transforming traffic management in Silchar.
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