Reducing Traffic Congestion: MCDC Installs Solar Traffic Lights

Under the supervision of the Chairman of Mandalay City Development Committee, 24 hours solar traffic lights are being installed at points of the traffic lights where the traffic jams mostly occur.

The program aims to prevent traffic congestion and accidents.  Ten solar system traffic lights have been installed at the junctions in Mandalay city, according to official from MCDC.

Thet Myat Thu, Junior Engineer-2, Building & Central Stores Department (MCDC) said “The 1stsolar traffic light was installed at the traffic point of the 26th and 66th street. We monitored the operation of the system for a week. This system is working well and so that we have decided to install another solar traffic lights at the junctions in the city.”

The installation of solar power traffic lights has significantly reduced the traffic jams in the city, official added.

Thet Myat Thu, Junior Engineer-2, Building & Central Stores Department (MCDC) said “Four 450-W solar panels with 200 AH battery are installed at a traffic light and it uses about 200-W of solar a day. The staffs from the Building and Central Stores Department install the solar power traffic lights. A total estimated cost is about 7 million kyats for all. Now, the systems are running 24 hours and there are no traffic jams although the power is cut off.”

It is planned to install more solar traffic lights at the points of 14 traffic lights as the 2ndpriority.