City traffic police don civic workforce hat

They are filling potholes on roads and clearing clogged drains ahead of the monsoon

The traffic police have filled over 250 potholes and cleared 40 clogged drains ahead of the monsoons. File Photo

Traffic police personnel have decided to don the hat of the civic workforce and have taken to filling potholes and clearing clogged drains ahead of the monsoon. By Thursday, the men in white and khaki had filled over 250 potholes and cleared 40 clogged drains.

A week ago, the Bangalore Traffic Police (BTP) had submitted a report to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on infrastructural reasons for traffic congestions, which includes badly maintained roads, encroached footpaths and nearly 46 spots of waterlogging during rains.

The idea was mooted by P. Harishekaran, Additional Commissioner of Police, during a review meeting on the city roads and traffic movement. Officials said the report submitted to the BBMP has been stuck in red tape and procedural delays. So, the traffic police sprang into action. “We can’t wait for the civic agencies to do the needful as it is a matter pertaining to preventable traffic congestion every day,” a senior police officer said.

Rajajinagar traffic police identified Laggere bus stop as one of the major waterlogging spots, and employed labourers to clear silt and debris which had filled the drain nearby. “With the effort of Bangalore Traffic Police, around 46 waterlogging spots have been cleared,” Mr. Harishekaran said.

The traffic police has initiated another special drive with the Forest Department to clear dry branches to prevent injuries during intense rainfall.

Rain preparedness

Meanwhile, Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun chaired a meeting on Thursday with zonal commissioners, chief engineers and senior officials of BBMP to review rain preparedness. She directed the officials to remove silt from the raja kaluves and storm-water drains to increase their carrying capacity and ensure free flow of water, besides maintaining constant coordination with the 64 control rooms at the subdivision level and other civic utilities.

“I had received complaints about civic workers leaving silt cleared from the drains by the side of roads. I have directed officials to ensure that this is cleared as soon as possible. Officials have also been instructed to fill all potholes on the roads,” she said.