In a dramatic turn of events, the city of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh finds itself embroiled in a legal battle over the shutdown of all 58 traffic signals for the third consecutive day, causing immense difficulties for commuters. The situation has escalated to the point where the matter is now set for a hearing in the Supreme Court, highlighting the gravity of the issue at hand.

The root of this crisis lies in a contractual dispute between the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) and M/S Shiv Shakti Dreams Homes Pvt Ltd, the private company responsible for maintaining and operating the city's traffic signals. 

The GMC had initially contracted Shiv Shakti in 2017 for a six-year period to maintain existing traffic signals and install new ones as needed. However, as the contract approached its end in May of the previous year, disagreements arose regarding its renewal.

On April 29, 2023, Shiv Shakti formally requested GMC to renew the contract. Subsequently, a committee was formed to evaluate the company's performance, leading to a decision against extending the contract. This decision was challenged by Shiv Shakti in court, marking the beginning of a legal dispute that culminated in a ruling in favor of GMC on March 20. Following the court's decision, Shiv Shakti was issued a notice to vacate the control room and return all equipment to the corporation.

However, instead of complying, Shiv Shakti's personnel allegedly sabotaged the traffic signals by cutting wires and removing crucial control devices, rendering the automated system non-functional. This deliberate act not only disrupted traffic flow but also impacted the regular duties of police officers, who had to prioritize traffic management over other law enforcement tasks.

In response to these actions, GMC took legal measures by filing a case against four employees of Shiv Shakti - Harish Sharma, Gunjan Sharma, Kapil Mohan Gupta, and Tarun Sharma - at the Sihani Gate police station. The case includes charges related to vandalism and obstruction of public services.

As the legal proceedings unfold, GMC is actively working to restore normalcy to the city's traffic management system by arranging for the necessary control devices.

As of Tuesday morning, with traffic signals still non-operational, the situation underscores not just the immediate inconvenience to citizens but also broader issues of contractual obligations, public safety concerns, and the need for effective resolution mechanisms.