With stoplights going dark in the Arakan State capital Sittwe during power outages — leading to traffic congestion and safety concerns — residents are calling for a battery-powered alternative or backup to the current system.

Power outages have been frequent recently, said Ma Win Myint, a Sittwe local.

“When the traffic lights do not work, the roads are a mess. Large vehicles and motorbikes are driving so fast at the junctions. So, we are worried about traffic accidents,” she said.

Ko Naing Lin Aung, another Sittwe resident, said a special electricity system should be installed to ensure the continuous functioning of the city’s traffic lights.

“A separate power line should be connected to ensure traffic lights are operating during electrical shortages,” he said.

Commander Myat Moe Kyaw Thu from the No. 5 Traffic Police Force in Arakan State said a proposal to ensure that traffic lights are operational during power outages was submitted under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which has since been overthrown.

“The issue will be proposed again under this government,” he told DMG, referring to the military regime that seized power on February 1.

It will cost about K3.5 million to install inverters for Sittwe’s traffic lights, according to the Traffic Police Force.