The Hindu : City Traffic wing to be bifurcated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 15, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

City Traffic wing to be bifurcated

By G. Anand

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM May 14. The city traffic police constabulary is proposed to be bifurcated into two police stations in order to usher in greater accountability into traffic enforcement and for the speedy disposal of cases.

According to official sources, the south and north segments of the Traffic police would function under two Station House officials in the rank of Circle Inspector of Police.

At present, traffic accidents, rule violations, offences and complaints reported from 16-odd police stations in the city are being handled at the Traffic station at Pattom.

The city police are of the view that a single police station would not suffice to handle the large number of cases. The current arrangement for traffic enforcement is viewed by senior officials as too unwieldy.

Two separate Traffic stations under the jurisdiction of CI-rank station house officers would bring in more accountability into traffic enforcement and handling of cases, it is felt.

The public hailing from East Fort, Thampanoor, Nemom, Poojappura and Vattiyoorkavu areas now find it difficult to access the Central station at Pattom.

Ideally, the city police would have the north and south Traffic stations geographically separate and functioning from two vantage points in the city. However, the lack of infrastructure and funds is impeding the efforts of the police to have two such separate stations.

Official sources said that it would be ideal to have the second Traffic station situated somewhere in the Fort area. An informal assessment has been made to ascertain whether the proposed second station could function from the premises of the office of the Assistant Commissioner (Fort).

The Traffic police are also facing a severe manpower shortage. At present, a sizeable segment of the 250-strong traffic police constabulary are being deployed for administrative work at the traffic station. The police are not able to spare more than 200 policemen for traffic enforcement. Of this, about 10 per cent of the constabulary would be on leave at any given time.

The proposal to procure raincoats, white gloves and masks to protect traffic constables from dust and vehicular pollution is hanging fire. With no funds provided for purchase of such equipment, the city police are now knocking at the doors of nationalised banks to provide raincoats and gas-masks to its traffic constabulary.

More than 70 per cent of the Traffic constables are suffering from bronchial problems owing to daily exposure to vehicular pollution.

Though most of the accidents are a result of overspeeding or rash, negligent and drunken driving, the police are finding it difficult to crack down on such traffic offences owing to lack of adequate equipment such as speed analysing radars (Speedet Radars) and breath analysers.

The four Speedet Radars procured by the police at a cost of Rs 1.5 lakhs from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 1997 are in a state of disuse. The breath analysers of the traffic police are not in working order. The police are also considering a proposal to set-up wireless equipped traffic aid posts.

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