After successfully making use of a helicopter to monitor traffic movement during the Durga Puja idol immersion procession last month, the Delhi Police yet again took the help of a helicopter on Diwali eve to monitor and regulate traffic in the city.
The move has come days after severe traffic snarls were witnessed around market areas and arterial roads in the city during the festivities. With heavy rush expected in and around the market areas that include lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazar, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Muktesh Chander said, “We shall be using a helicopter for traffic monitoring and regulation to ensure smooth traffic flow… Two sorties will be conducted using a Pawan Hans helicopter. The live traffic situation will be reported to the control room and the details shall be made available to the public through our helpline.”
“The monitoring shall be done from a lower altitude at Dhaula Kuan in South Delhi and near the Kashmere Gate ISBT in North,” Chander added.
Under this initiative, officials keep watch on the traffic scenario and inform personnel in the field through the wireless system, said a senior official.
However, even with the Delhi Police having an eye in the sky, heavy traffic was reported in various parts of the city with the situation found to be better than what it was witnessed on Monday.
Many commuters complained of getting stuck in traffic jam second day in a row after Delhi was brought to a standstill on Monday as well due to Diwali festivities.
Ring Road, Barapullah elevated road and DND Flyway near entry-point to Delhi were completely jam-packed in the evening hours with commuters stuck in traffic for hours. Heavy traffic was also reported on Mathura Road, Pushta Road, Mehrauli Badarpur Road, Mahatma Gandhi Marg and National Highway-8.
After having a horrible time stuck in traffic on Monday, many Delhiites decided to stay at home or visit nearby markets to avoid traffic jams. “I had gone shopping on Monday and it was a horrible experience. I spent 4-5 hours stuck in traffic. So today I decided only to go to stay at home and buy crackers from a nearby market instead of traveling long distance and spoil my festive mood,” said Shrabani Talukdar, a resident of Neb Sarai.
Traffic in the city has been thrown out of gear for over a week now with festive season going on and people stepping out of their homes for shopping and visiting homes of their near and dear ones to wish them and exchange gifts.