Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Local Police to Help in Traffic Control During Games

A day after Delhi police commissioner Y S Dadwal requested citizens to try and avoid roads leading to Commonwealth Games venues while athletes and officials are being ferried to them during the October 3-14 sporting gala, the traffic police said that they have devised two new methods to counter the threat of jams during the Games.

Talking to Times City, a senior traffic police officer said a decision has been taken to rope in local police to control traffic in areas which witness peak-hour jams. ‘‘The project will be inaugurated during this rainy season since water logging leads to a lot of congestion. We are only trying to tell local police that they do not need to wait for our guidance to clear up a jam,’’ said the officer. The officer added that the project will be used as a pilot before the Games. ‘‘If successful, it will help us streamline traffic during the games too,’’ added the officer.

Sources in the police said that officials up to the rank of sub-inspectors might be asked to chip in. ‘‘The number of cars on Delhi roads are increasing by the day. However, the number of traffic policemen has not increased accordingly. Since basic traffic rules are known to local police we will have some more expert people manning the roads,’’ said a southern district traffic officer.

Meanwhile, a dearth of officials has forced the cops to turn to the ‘common man’ so that he can help in regulating traffic on Delhi roads. Delhi Police has invited ‘‘motivated residents’’ to enrol themselves as volunteers for traffic regulation during the mega sporting extravaganza. ‘‘We have roped in cricketer Virender Sehwag to appeal to the people to join the programme,’’ a senior police official said. In the programme, a Delhiite who is above 18 years of age and has passed Class XII can enrol as a volunteer and his services will be utilized for 20 days between September 25 and October 15.

‘‘What you need is only a mobile phone and an email ID. If the volunteer has a driving license, it is better. Download the application from the Delhi Traffic Police website www.delhitrafficpolice.nic.in and you will soon receive your registration number,’’ the official said. The official said a volunteer will have to work for at least three hours a day during those 20 days at a time of his choice. However, the official said, no remuneration will be paid as it is an ‘‘honorary volunteer ship’’. The cops said that these ‘‘volunteers’’ will be imparted some basic traffic management skills soon before they will be taken on a ‘‘live’’ demonstration at strategic locations. ‘‘There is no limit to the number of people who can enroll in this programme,’’ added the officer.

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