For the first time, the Delhi Traffic Police is using a twin engine helicopter for monitoring and regulating traffic during immersion of Durga Puja idols at specific spots across the city.
Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dr Muktesh Chander said the twin engine helicopter has been hired from Pawan Hans Helicopters. “It is being used to effectively monitor and regulate traffic situation during Durga Puja idol immersion processions in the city,” he said.
Police Commissioner BS Bassi, who said the chopper was hired on a rent of Rs4 lakh for a single day use, pitched for procuring its (Delhi Police) own helicopter in near future. “We will be using the helicopter more often now on those occasions when heavy traffic is observed in various parts of the city. It will also be used during the Muharram processions,” he told The Pioneer.
He said the Delhi Police will send a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs to buy its very own helicopter for such purposes.
The helicopter was in constant touch with the control room throughout the day and traffic officers inside the helicopter kept watch on the traffic as they guided traffic cops in the field through wireless, said officials.
Sources said Senior Special Commissioner Dharmedra Kumar was himself sitting inside the chopper and keeping a watch on the situation.
“All the ghats and roads leading to immersion spots as well as general affected area are being surveyed. Aerial videography is also being done,” said Chander.
The videos taken from the chopper may help the traffic police to understand patterns in traffic and choke points that lead to long snarls and thereby formulating a guided strategy to find solutions, said officials.
Meanwhile, traffic police has also disallowed the use of any big trucks and tractor trolleys for carrying the idols as they “cause serious obstruction”.
The traffic police advised the use of only light Goods Vehicles (lGV) for carrying of idols that usually are carried by some on big trucks and tractor trolleys.
Durga idol immersions had started on Thursday and continued till Friday evening. The joint Durga Puja procession Committee took out its procession from Kali Bari Mandir on Mandir Marg to Kudesia Ghat along the Yamuna bank near ISBT. Another combined Durga Puja procession was taken from Chitaranjan Park’s Kali Mandir to Kalindi Kunj ghat.
Traffic on several roads was affected due to movement of these processions from afternoon hours till late evening.