Five platoons of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) comprising 150 jawans who were earlier deployed in different traffic posts to assist local traffic police for controlling traffic system of the city here have reportedly been de-engaged. According to information available, the city police administration has engaged 50 constables in the place of the jawans in different traffic posts.
Traffic problem is very acute in Brahmapur and the reasons are rash driving, manifold increase in the number of vehicles, no space for pedestrians, malfunctioning of traffic signaling systems, lack of required number of traffic constables, encroachments by hoteliers and street level shops, absence of proper parking space and erratic parking system etc.
The IRB jawans were assisting traffic police not only in controlling the vehicles but also helping at the time of blocking the vehicles including verification of vehicles by the local police, said Traffic Police IIC Suresh Kumar Kuanar. Now the police have deployed 1-2 constables in place of 4-5 jawans in some traffic posts, as a result of the traffic problem once again has become more acute.
Six months back the IRB jawans were brought on deputation from Chandaka and deployed at different traffic posts in the city. After de-engagement, one platoon each has now been deputed to Kalahandi and Angul while two platoons of jawans were sent to Kandhamala and the remaining one platoon is awaiting to proceed to Boudh for duty, sources said. Notably, a few days back the four PCR Vans which were under the control of traffic police were attached one each to four of police stations- Baidyanathpur, Gosaninuagaon, Town Police and Bada Bazar for patrolling in their respective police circles.
In a bid to enhance efficiency of the police, a global positioning system (GPS) was installed in PCR vans in south Odisha town increasing their area of coverage. This has been done in view of the increasing vehicular traffic and reports of crime from residential areas. Though district police had installed a round-the-clock mobile telephone in the control room to receive complaints and information about accidents, traffic congestions, movement of criminals and other law and order problems in the city, but no sign of improvement in crime or traffic system is visible yet.
Similarly, the Brahmapur Development Authority (BDA) has also proposed construction of a ring road, a bypass and an internal bypass in different locations. The proposed 52-km ring road will cover Ragunathpur, Ratanapur, Digapahandi Road, Chikiti Road, Haladiapadar, National Highway 5, Korapalli, University Road, Golabandh Gate and Ragunathpur, while a 13-km bypass will be from Alakapur to Ratanpur and an internal bypass road will connect First Gate with Jagannathpur, the execution of which is not certain, said an observer.
According to a senior citizen, the traffic police are mute spectators of the rule violators especially those who drive vehicles with cell phones in hand or at break-neck speed. Sometimes, constables posted in different traffic posts are found talking among themselves without paying attention to the vehicles on the road. There is a strong public perception that the Government should immediately fix CCTVs on each and every traffic post in the city to keep tab on the anti-socials and mischief-mongers.