Managing traffic Herculean task for cops

Though the police have envisaged a plan to streamline the traffic in the holy city, the problem of traffic congestion remains as the traffic cops hardly pay attention to traffic management.

The situation turns grim during VIP or VVIP movements in the holy city. The number of cops had also dwindled in the recent past. At present, there are around 350 cops to maintain traffic. Last year, the number was 600.

“Instead of regulating the traffic, the traffic cops concentrate on completing the target of issuing challans,” said Pritam Singh, a local resident.

The traffic lights have been defunct at Raiway Station Chowk, Putlighar Chowk, Ranit Ka Bagh Chowk at various other major points for past couple of months. Ideally, the cops there should be streamlining the traffic, but it is not the case.

“The free flow of traffic of all sides leads to traffic snarls at these points. The situation turns too chaotic when the trains arrive at the railway station and when they day is over at the schools and colleges,” said Raj Kumar of Putlighar area. Moreover these, intersections have become accident-prone areas while brawls between the commuters cold be witnessed at times at these chowks, he added.

Alam Vijay Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), said to streamline the traffic, the police have divided the city into seven zones. Each zones is supervised by an Inspector or Sub-Inspector rank officer.

He said these zones were further divided into two zone headed by ACP-rank officials and they would be supervised Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police and by him.

“Besides regulating the traffic, the cops would take stringent measures against the violators, especially those jumping the red light, without helmet, drink and drive, overspeeding of vehicles,” he said. At present, the strength of the city police is 350, he added.

He said the cops would be asked to regulate the traffic on priority basis while the people also should cooperate by keeping in the mind the right to way of other commuters on the road.

He said Municipal Corporation authorities were also requested to get the traffic lights repaired.