Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police Monday came up with a blueprint to address growing traffic woes in the twin cities. Speaking to media, Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi said the main focus of the Commissionerate Police for now is to ensure that road-users are taught to adopt lane-driving and shun overtaking on roads.
He said an IPS level officer (Deputy Commissioner of Police for Traffic) has been appointed to look after traffic issues in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The Commissionerate Police will hold meetings with BMC and BDA authorities every week to address traffic problems.
He asserted that overtaking and rash driving on roads have become the biggest reasons for the traffic problem in the city. Commuters, especially two wheelers and auto-rickshaw drivers are always in a mad race to reach their destinations. They often tend to break traffic rules and are found indulging in overtaking on roads, added Sarangi.
He urged denizens to be more disciplined while using public roads and adhere to lane-driving. Vehicle users should stand along marked lines at traffic points during flashing of red lights and never try to overtake others by wading through vehicles waiting at traffic spots.
“We are planning to stop the menace of overtaking at some stretches completely by deploying traffic cops. However, it is almost impossible to stop overtaking by posting police personnel at all stretches of the twin cities keeping in view our limited resources,” the new police commissioner said.
We are planning to deploy drone cameras in coming days to keep strict vigil on people indulging in overtaking and violating traffic rules, Sarangi said. As a pilot project, the commissionerate police will deploy drones on the road stretch between Rabindra Mandap and Biju Patnaik International Airport which has been declared as a ‘no overtaking zone’.
After rainy days, traffic cops will impart basic training to commuters about lane driving. Answering a question on illegal parking of autos on road sides causing traffic snarls, he revealed that he had already discussed the issue with the members of the city’s auto rickshaw association.
He asserted that free parking spots will be created to stop people from parking their vehicles at no parking zones.
