The traffic police personnel deployed at major routes in the city are battling the scorching summer with minimum facilities as the proposal to set up 25 traffic posts along few major routes are still pending with the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) since 2016. With early summer this year and in the absence of basic amenities, traffic constables are finding it difficult to perform their duties where even small temporary shades are not present to prevent them from exhaustion, heat-strokes and other ailments.
Craving for a proper setup with basic facility, neither the Traffic police department nor the civic body personnel seem to be serious regarding this or are making some alternate arrangements to provide immediate respite to the traffic constables delivering their duties holding just an umbrella.
“I have approached the civic body a month back on the issue and reminded them about the proposal but nothing has come out yet. We are trying on our own to make some alternate arrangement that will be beneficial for the constables. From purchasing 500 umbrellas to additional helmets all these things have been ensured. The department is also trying to tie-up with some NGOs so that temporary shades can be set up at different locations,” said, SP Traffic, Sanjay Ranjan Singh.
Notably, there are approximately 375 personnel in Ranchi Traffic Police at present. Out of the total number, around 250 personnel serve as traffic constables here in State Capital. According to the department records 41 traffic posts are there in Ranchi.
“The condition is such that even those 15 traffic posts that were renovated few years back crave for maintenance and lack facilities that were supposed to be decked up at each traffic post. In spite of repeated attempts, no serious efforts are being made by the Municipal Corporation to take up the project on priority basis. We have arranged pots and given on-duty constables ORS powder, medicines for immediate aid,” said, DSP Traffic, Dilip Xalxo.
Ironically enough, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Bidyanand Sharma Pankaj, said, “The proposal is pending with the RMC due to some technical problem. We were supposed to give contract to the advertisement company that would further maintain those traffic posts. However, no agency so far has approached us for the venture, hence it is pending.
As of now, the Traffic Department too has been allocated some funds and may be that will be utilized for this specific purpose.”
Birsa chowk, HEC Gate, Kishori Yadav Chowk, Namkom, Durga Soren Chowk, Patel Chowk, AG More, Bahu Bazar, SSP Residence, Durga Mandir, Kishoreganj Chowk, Shani Mandir Chowk , Gari Khana Chowk, Harmu Chowk, Shaheed Chowk, RIMS, Kokar, Tatisilve, Piska More, Karbala Chowk, Plaza Chowk, Mission Chowk are few places were these traffic posts were supposed to be created in July 2016 with proper lighting, charging/plug in points, table fan, water purifier and table-chair conveniences.