Ludhiana, Feb. 24 -- The much-hyped adaptive traffic control system (ATCS) project, launched in March last year to improve traffic management in the city, remains far from completion. Despite a budget of Rs.7.48 crore under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP), only 16 out of 42 traffic junctions have received sensor-based traffic lights. The project, aimed at easing congestion and improving road safety, is progressing at a sluggish pace, causing inconvenience to commuters.

The municipal corporation (MC) had issued a one-year work order for the project in March last year, but with just two months left before the tender expires, more than half of the work remains undone.

MC officials cite multiple reasons for the delay, including pendin...