Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly expressed displeasure over the way traffic was being managed during the movement of his motorcade in the national Capital as it was resulting in major hardship to pedestrians and motorists.
In a note to Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi, Special Protection Group (SPG) chief Vivek Srivastava has said that detailed discussion on the matter had been held to enforce a plan which would reduce the impact of the Prime Minister’s movement on the city’s traffic.
For example, the Delhi Police has been clamping restrictions in and around Ashoka Road during the Prime Minister’s programme at the BJP’s national office.
According to the note, traffic at Ashoka Road and other radial roads should not be restrained once the VVIP has reached his destination and the motorcade has been suitably re-marshalled and parked at the party’s headquarters.
Putting barricades around the place where the PM’s motorcade is parked would suffice.
However, no heavy vehicle should be permitted to enter the area. Also no vehicle should be permitted to stop en route or park near the party headquarters, during the PM’s visit.
The note also said that traffic on opposite carriageways having dividers or that merging on to a carriageway from connecting roads should not ordinarily be stopped, but allowed to proceed normally.
Regarding inconvenience caused to Supreme Court and High Court judges during the VVIP’s movement, it was decided that coordination with Personal Security Officers of such dignitaries would be done in advance and an appropriate route decided for the dignitaries to prevent any difficulties to them.
Srivastava has also touched upon the need to reduce the speed of the PM’s motorcade to give police manning the route more reaction time.
“The speed of the motorcade will be limited to a maximum of 80 kmph to allow the police sufficient lead time to regulate traffic and also ensure that no undue restrictions are put on vehicular and pedestrian movement,” the note said.
This observation comes on the heels of a recent discussion Srivastava held with Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Mukesh Chander, during which it was pointed out that the high speed of the motorcade reduces the time available to the policemen posted on the route, to regulate traffic and check pedestrian movement.
This short reaction time was the reason that longer restraints were being put on pedestrians and traffic flow during the VVIP’s movement as the police can’t risk any person or vehicle getting in the path of the motorcade.
The Special CP is said to have suggested that slowing down of the motorcade would help solve the problem both for the police and for the citizens as it would give the cops more reaction time to avoid any mishaps and traffic restrictions would also have to be put for a shorter period.
Srivastava also said that traffic regulations on the PM’s route should be used judiciously.
“In order to provide sufficient lead time, the motorcade will be rolled over following an “all clear” message being flashed on the wireless to provide at least 60 seconds to the local police, before it reaches the first traffic point en route. For example, the lead car will reach a particular point, only after 60 seconds once the message will be announced.”
The note said that the policemen on duty should release the traffic once the motorcade crosses the point and has moved about 50 meters ahead without awaiting any further clearance.