Unable to enforce parking regulations and clamp down on vehicles that obstruct traffic, City Traffic Police are chalking out plans to outsource a portion of their enforcement duties.
Tasks such as towing away illegally parked vehicles will be handed over to firms on a contract basis, while a police officer will accompany enforcement teams and supervise the drive. This method has been found effective in most metros of the country. “We have mooted a similar system since traffic management has become a nightmare in view of regulations in place for metro works,” a senior traffic police officer said.
Often vehicles taking alternative roads to avoid traffic gridlocks near metro barricades face worse situations on side roads due to haphazardly parked vehicles, street vendors and encroachers. Pedestrians too are caught in the melee.
“We plan to revive the practice of pasting penalty stickers on vehicles that block free movement of traffic and pedestrians till the new system evolves,” the officer said.
KMRL under fire
With motorists crying fowl over alleged mismanagement of traffic due to metro works, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) intends to take up issues such as relocating electric posts and transformers that block traffic with the departments concerned. “A meeting with the KSEB chairman has been planned on May 17, wherein we will express our willingness to share the expenses,” KMRL sources said.
They added that traffic regulation will be easier if shopping malls, theatres and places of worship make arrangements to streamline flow of vehicles in their vicinity. “Matters might get worse if Kochi Corporation does not clean up drains and canals, since even the narrow space on barricaded roads will get flooded in the monsoons.”
DMRC blamed
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is facing flak for delay in removing barricades at work sites and reducing the width of the barricaded portion. “We will try our best to reduce the width of barricades and later remove them once safety barriers are installed around metro pillars. Piling is taking more time than expected since KWA, KSEB etc., do not have details of precise location of pipelines and cables. This often delays removal of barricades,” said a DMRC spokesperson.
On the delay in widening narrow portions of M.G. Road and four-laning of Jos Junction-Ernakulam South railway station road, sources said the district administration had not handed over the land required to the DMRC. The district administration has been blaming the State government for its delay in framing rules based on the new Land Acquisition Act.
