BJP MLAs write to CM, demand rejig in traffic police jurisdictions

Nagpur: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Krishna Khopde and four other MLAs have demanded traffic regulation on the lines of assembly segments, instead of the existing system of following police station jurisdictions.
In a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the East Nagpur MLA pointed out that if such a system is developed in urban areas, traffic regulations and control would be smoother.
The other four MLAs, Sudhakhar Kohale (from South Nagpur), Vikas Kumbhare (Central Nagpur), Sudhakar Deshmukh (West) and Dr Milind Mane (North), too have endorsed the letter seeking demarcation of traffic police chambers as per legislative assembly constituencies.
Presently, the state is following the British system, where Nagpur has five chambers — I, II, III, IV and V. Each traffic chamber comprises of the jurisdiction of six police stations.
The MLA has suggested the changes in view of the increasing population in urban areas and pressure of vehicular traffic. Khopde said the elected representatives, especially MLAs, have received many complaints regarding the deteriorating traffic situation in the city. But they could not solve problems since their constituencies were overlapping two or three chambers of traffic police. Even motorists too do not know with whom to raise traffic issues.
Citing an example, he said the East assembly constituency is spread over the jurisdiction of three chambers — II, III, and IV. Similar is the situation in other assembly segments. This is causing problems in resolving traffic complaints, he stated.
Vikas Kumbhare said traffic in old city areas has steadily worsened as number of vehicles has grown. People in Mahal, Itwari, Gandhibagh etc feel they get a bad deal with traffic police hardly paying attention here.
Kohale also said residents feel traffic in East, North and South Nagpur has worsened in the recent past. He alleged that efforts of traffic police are confined to parts of South and West Nagpur.
“To organize any programme, citizens need permission from city traffic police, and there is confusion which chamber’s permission is needed,” said MLA Sudhakar Deshmukh. He added that similar problems were faced in rationing department, before jurisdiction was split as per assembly segments, resolving most complaints of citizens, claimed the MLA.
The MLAs said many roads declared as no-hawking zones still see hawkers flouting rules, with traffic cops remaining mute spectators. Such violations take place even during peak hours on Mahal Road, Itwari, Gandhibagh. Lack of enforcement results in commotion and quarrels between vehicle users in the middle of the road, they said.
Terming their demand as a special request, all the five city MLAs have urged the CM to divide the jurisdiction of traffic police as per assembly segments.