For the first of its kind 50- kilometre-long human chain that is going to be formed in the city today to raise awareness on polythene ban, the district administration, police department and Municipal Corporation of Dehradun have completed all preparations. However, even with additional forces deployed and all the precautions taken, how the authorities will manage traffic- related problems on Tuesday is a major concern.
The routine flow of vehicles in the city resulted in traffic congestions on Monday. Even with police personnel present to regulate the traffic, there was congestion at several junctions. This raises concerns about the traffic- related problems that may occur on Tuesday during the human chain event, as the programme proposes to include about one lakh people across the city.
MCD is expecting that about 80,000 people will participate in the event. On Monday, the SSP held a meeting with officers to discuss aspects of the event.
According to the information provided by local police, the district police department has deployed at least 10 Circle Officers, five Inspectors, four Station Officers, 68 Sub-Inspectors and 128 constables for maintaining law and order duty during the human chain event on Monday. At least 15 additional Hawk mobiles have been included from Haridwar with 15 Hawk mobiles from Dehradun.
The city area where the 50- kilometre-long human chain will be formed has been divided into three sectors and sub-divided into nine zones.
The core team, which will focus on the traffic arrangements will be headed by an officer of Deputy Superintendent rank or by Traffic Inspector and Traffic Sub-Inspectors. Two constables and two home-guard personnel will also be deployed in each zone. Also, a crane or tractor trolley will also be kept in each zone for any emergency purposes.
The district traffic personnel will cordon off the roads and put ropes on one side of the road to ensure security of the people participating in the human chain and also to give enough
space for the traffic to continue operating on one side of the road. 100 extra cones and 50 extra barricades have been requested from Haridwar which police will start putting from Monday evening.
The total police forces, including district traffic and city police, total 14 Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSPs), 25 Inspectors and Station in-charges, 100 Sub-Inspectors, 450 constables
and six companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary.