Social media is our extended eyes & ears, has helped in traffic mgmt: DCP

Despite rising awareness about traffic rules, motorists indulge in violations. Do Nagpurians lack civic sense or they don’t fear action?
While traffic regulation is first priority, taking action against traffic violators is an integral part of it, especially cases of signal jumping and over-speeding. Compared to 2017, we had recorded 13,000 more cases of traffic violations.We are committed to ensure all violators are issued challans.
What strategy will you adopt to deal with such challenges?
One such programme is Surgical Strike in which we select specific junctions for two hours and focus on enforcement as well as awareness by roping in school students. They hold placards and posters, and also interact with violators. In addition to paper challans, e-challans are also being issued through SMSes for traffic violations being captured through CCTVs of Smart City network. The challenges lie in sensitizing the people. Traffic violators argue with traffic policemen if a challan is issued and some turn violent too.
What are the specific spots you feel are the most problematic and take up a lot of your resources?
We are analysing all traffic jams daily including duration and response time to ensure that remedial measures are taken urgently. We have been successful in controlling it to a large extent by taking various measures over a period of time. This is necessary to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
A majority of violators are teenagers or college students.
We have been arranging various programmes from time to time targeting general public and also students. Our RSP (Road Safety Parade) team is associated with 250 schools in which they regularly take road safety awareness related lectures that are interactive in nature. This age group is our main target. They should grow up as responsible citizens with full knowledge of rules, sense and discipline.
Your predecessor started using social networking sites to connect with citizens. Is that effective?
It has acted as our extended eyes and ears in getting complaints and feedback. We have used them to improve our traffic management. Many challans are also being issued based on the complaints from Twitter and WhatsApp.
Recently, HC passed strictures on traffic cops not positioning themselves at signals and being busy using mobile phones. What action have you taken against such cops?
Disciplinary action is being regularly taken. Clear instructions are given that when they are at a junction, they should focus on regulating traffic. Those performing their duty with sincerity are also being rewarded.
With there being a staff crunch, why doesn’t traffic police take help of wardens to regulate traffic?
We are in the process of increasing staff. Wardens can only be used as supplementary hands. They can’t replace our trained force.
Being an IITian, are you planning to scale up the use of technology in traffic management?
I introduced the pedestrian friendly signal system at Variety Square where it has been running successfully for 3 months. The Sanrakshan — an accident analysis system — is to take all possible measures before a spot becomes a ‘black spot’. This has received government sanction under ‘innovative scheme’ for financial support. The Suraksha — QR code based stickers for autos/cabs — is for passenger safety, women safety, crime prevention, driver behaviour monitoring and emergency response.
I have also recommended using the concept of Blue Light for traffic signals at Nagpur city. When it comes on, a motorist can switch off his vehicle. Blue Light will come on along with red light and go off a few seconds before the green light to indicate that driver must now switch on the engine. This can help reduce air and noise pollution, and fuel consumption.
(Raj Tilak Roushan is deputy commissioner of police (traffic) for Nagpur City)