Experiencing problems because of over speeding vehicles or self-regulating traffic at squaresIJ Blame it on inadequate strength of traffic police and the cascading effect of general elections in Jharkhand.
General elections in the State appear to have taken its toll on the efficiency of Ranchi traffic police which is battling to ensure smooth and orderly traffic especially at prominent squares on important stretches. The department which was working below the requisite strength and was supplied manpower by other districts is now working hard to get back to
pre-election strength.
Interestingly, against the sanctioned strength of 600 constables Ranchi Traffic police is managing affairs on the streets with barely 250 which includes around 65 constables from other districts. Constables belonging to other districts were called by their respective administration to discharge election duties however they are yet to report to Ranchi Police thus further straining the traffic system.
“Steps have been initiated to call them back to duty,” said SP (Traffic) Rajeev Ranjan Singh.
Delay in calling constables back to duty was affected due to administrative process which requires Ranchi police to send a formal request to the police headquarter seeking permission to begin issuing letters to the respective district administration with regard to relieving those constables earlier deputed with Ranchi police. According to SSP Prabhat Kumar, all constables are likely to report to Ranchi after May 16.
“We made a request to police headquarter and they have given us orders to call them (constables) back. We have started the process and all constables should come back once counting of votes is over,” maintained the SSP Ranchi.
Meanwhile, controlling over-speeding vehicles has become a challenge for constables who overstretch their duty hours by at least four hours.
Besides, the disorganised flow of traffic at prominent squares such as lPN Sahdeo Chowk, Sahjanand Chowk and Arogra Chowk on one of the most VIP roads is throwing challenge to commuters.
According to traffic officials, duty hours at Hot lips Chowk, Ratu Road Chowk, Kanta Toli and HEC Gate begin from 6 am until the change in shift at 3 pm whereas at other traffic posts it is 9 am to 9 pm shift. Traffic constables rue that extended duty hours is affecting concentration and their condition is worsened due to heat waves in the afternoon and that is the reason for absence of constables from designated spots on the squares.
“It’s a 12-hour duty whereas we are supposed to do eight hours. This affects the work however we are not running away from our responsibility,” said a constable posted at Ratu Road Chowk.