STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Police Commissioner of Guwahati has enforced prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC against the unauthorised digging of roads and not ensuring basic safety measures at parts of the road that have been dug up while mentioning the hazards of such projects posing a threat to the user of the road. They also mentioned that, due to non-adherence to the basic safety measures by the firms engaged in multiple projects while digging public roads, in recent times there have been unfortunate incidents leading to the loss of precious human lives.
Imdad Ali, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration), Guwahati, issued the order prohibiting all works that involve the digging of public roads within the jurisdiction of the Police Commissionerate, Guwahati. There are, however, some exceptions to the ban. These include work involving the digging of public roads, which shall only be carried out with written permission from the concerned Road Owning Agency, like PWD (Roads), or from the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metropolitan) District. The concerned government agency undertaking such work shall obtain the necessary permission and authorise the implementing firm to undertake such work.
Also, the government agency or implementing firm, after obtaining the necessary permission for digging of public roads from the concerned road owning agency like PWD (Roads) or from the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metropolitan) District, shall intimate the same to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Guwahati. The intimation should include details of the road or street proposed to be dug, along with the proposed date of commencement and the estimated time period required to complete the work.
Along with the intimation, the government agency or implementing firm must attach all the necessary papers, including written permission from the concerned road owning agency like PWD (Roads) or from the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metropolitan) District, a written undertaking of adhering to all the basic safety measures like barricading, putting up reflective signage, warning lights, etc., the details of the implementing firms, and the supervisors who will be responsible for the said work.
No construction material or excavated earth will be dumped haphazardly on the road. There should be a designated space for storing such material with all the basic safety measures to avoid any mishaps and without causing any hindrance to traffic movement. And no such work shall be undertaken without proper coordination with the Guwahati Traffic Police. This order comes into effect immediately and remains in force until further notice. Any violation of these directives shall be considered an offence under the appropriate provisions of law, and legal action will be initiated accordingly. Objections regarding the order can be raised with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration).
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