BENGALURU: Given Bengaluru’s nightmarish traffic and pathetic roads, commuting is a major challenge and, at the same time, a huge challenge for the Bengaluru Traffic Police. Additional Director General of Police Dr M A Saleem, who was recently appointed Special Commissioner-Traffic, has now come up with a new initiative for better traffic management.
Under the new initiative, said to be the first such attempt in the traffic police, senior officers have now been given the responsibility of traffic management to during peak hours.
Saleem had introduced several other initiatives to tackle traffic problems in school zones and has also sought public participation in traffic management.
As per the new system, all senior traffic police officers should compulsorily be on the roads at 8 am sharp and in the evening from 4 pm to 5 pm. The inspectors, ACPs and other senior officers of respective traffic jurisdictions should be present at major junctions and facilitate smooth traffic movement. “If senior police officers are not available at peak hours, they better stay at home instead of coming late to where they are required”, Saleem remarked.
He also said, “We are planning to adopt more of technology in traffic management. Bengaluru is the first city which started automatic challaning system in the nation”.
“Our target was to make contactless policing and we have already filed 30,000 cases. There are issues concerning vehicles without insurance, fitness certificates and such others, which we will look into”, he added.
“We can bring in more reform once after a meeting with other stakeholders. We want bring down waiting time on the roads and will make sincere efforts. Collecting fines is not at all our priority. The main job of the traffic police is regulation, enforcement and road safety. More priority will be given to regulating traffic and road safety. If this is taken care of, everything will be on track.”
“We will also create awareness among public. I would like to request commuters to that start their journey 10 minutes as it will easy for you to reach the destination. When public transport improves in a city, the traffic problem will be reduced. The government has approved many public transport projects. Once these are in place, there should be lesser traffic on the roads in two-three years”, Saleem felt.
Given Saleem’s prior experience and expertise in traffic management, commuters are hoping for smoother drives on the city’s roads in the coming days.