The Government Order (GO) on utilisation of 75 per cent of total amount collected in the form of traffic violation penalties for traffic related works by the police department in February 10, 2014 is yet to be executed. The State police had already sent its manual around five months ago to the State Government. Delay in approval from the State Government is preventing the police from introducing measures for improving the traffic situation in the State.
Observers opine that traffic congestion is being experienced on various roads in the State capital and other parts of the state due to improperly placed electricity poles and other factors. The city roads have not been widened enough to keep abreast of the increasing number of vehicles. Uttarakhand being a tourist spot, large numbers of visitors come here daily. In view of this, the state government should take measures to improve traffic system in the state without delay.
State Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sidhu said that the police collect significant amount in the form of penalties from traffic violators by conducting vehicle checking drive against tinted glasses, overloading, drunken driving, improper parking, riders without helmets, vehicles without number plates and other traffic violations in the state. On an average, the police department collects around Rs four crore annually in penalties for traffic violations from all the districts of the state.
The State Government has released a Government order for financial year 2014-15 on February 10, 2014. If State Government approves its manual 75 per cent of the total amount collected in penalties for traffic violations will be used on traffic related works in the state. Several measures including generating space, preventing encroachments and installing CCTV cameras at important places will be taken to improve traffic situation in the state capital and other parts of the State, he added.