Monday, 23 May 2011

Darbar move: relief for overstressed traffic cops in Jammu

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, May 19: As the seat of government has now shifted to Srinagar, it had brought some relief to the overstressed traffic cops, as burden of ensuring smooth VIP movement and maintaining regular traffic for last six months was giving them sleepless nights. 

Officials said that nearly 8,000 additional vehicles roaming the city during the winter months will now move back to valley plus the shifting of hundreds of other vehicles accompanying the cavalcades of politicians and bureaucrats will also relieve the cops from the additional jobs.
 

“The Darbar move have given us some relief as most of the traffic cops were under intense pressure as we not only had to ensure smooth flow of daily traffic but the movement of VIPs even during the peak hours”, said a traffic inspector.
 

Officials say that VIP movement was the main headache for the traffic department when the government was in winter capital as despite having very few cops at its disposal they had to ensure free movement of the politicians, bureaucrats and other high security people.
 

Senior traffic officer said that during the Darbar his men had to deal with so many things, ensuring the daily pace of life, smooth functioning of VIP vehicles and keeping the city roads open for any eventuality.
 

“We were under pressure but it is part of duty but shifting of secretariat has given some relief to my men”, he said.
 

Not only this even some roads which remain closed for civilian movement during six months will now open up till the government again shifts to Jammu in October.
 
“There were so many restrictions on parking, using some roads junctions, but at least these restrictions will now end”, said a local resident Mohammad Ayub.
 

This year the people and the traffic police also had to face the bad condition of the roads which had overstretched the existing arteries, “Most of the roads were dug out by different departments and the shortcuts available to the people remained closed which also put pressure on main junctions in the city”, said SSP.
 

It is pertinent to mention here that Jammu already is hosting 4-lakh vehicles and every traffic cop has around 1400 vehicles on his head. Sources said that at present there are close to 300 traffic police personnel and officers deployed in Jammu to deal with the traffic management.
 

In terms of the expansion, Jammu has become a mega city of the state as it has become not only a major economic hub but also a magnet for the people from other parts of the state.
 

However officials said that this relief could be short-lived as they will now have to deal with the Amarnath yatra during with thousands of more vehicles enter the city of temples.

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