Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sidhu said, "The State Government will bear the expenditure for making space and removing electricity poles which cause traffic congestion at various places in the State.
We had recently proposed this to the State Government and the Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has approved this.” Roads of the city have not been widened but there has been rapid increase in number of four wheelers and two wheelers in the State.
He said that police has taken several measures including generating space and preventing encroachments to improve traffic situation in Dehradun and other parts of the State.
It may be mentioned here that earlier, Sidhu had said that State Government has approved allocation of seventy five percent of the total amount collected in penalties for traffic violations to the police department for completing traffic related works in the State.
Sidhu said that it is being observed that traffic congestion is being experienced on some roads due to improperly placed electricity poles along the roadside, encroachments, shortage of parking space and other factors.
“For ensuring smooth flow of traffic in the state, we have decided to remove these electricity poles and alternatives like underground wires will be made in consultation department concerned and the Government will bear the expenditure for moving electricity poles and widening of roads in the State.
Due to rapid increase in number of vehicles on roads and arrival of tourists in Uttarakhand, district police heads have been directed to deploy adequate police force at important roads especially during rush hours for resolving traffic congestion there.
Apart from this, they have been directed to draft a plan to find out permanent solutions for resolving traffic jams there. District police heads have already been directed to launch a drive against wrong parking of vehicles, tinted glasses, overloading, drunken driving, riders without helmets, vehicles without number plates and other traffic violations from time to time and imposed challan on traffic violators.
Establishing a traffic system in the State in which no traffic violator can get away after violating traffic norms is one of the top and immediate priorities. ''Presently, we have developed a system in which Cheetah police along with armed policeman will chase the traffic violator after he jumps traffic light, overspeeds or violates some other traffic rule.
“Of two policemen, one would have a video camera and videograph the whole incident and challan will be imposed based on video footage. Emphasis has been laid on using technology in streamlining the vehicular traffic and regulating the whole traffic system in the state. District police heads have been directed to take steps to remove encroachments for ensure smooth flow of traffic in their jurisdiction,” DGP added.