Gauhati High Court Issues Directives to Ease Traffic Congestion

TRAFFIC CHAOS IN CITY

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has issued several directives to ease alarming traffic chaos in the city. The directives came during hearing of PIL filed by one Rita Das Mozumdar of Maligaon Chariali. Mozumdar in her PIL highlighted as how traffic congestion has made city life haphazard and hazardous.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Ajai Lamba and Justice Achintya Malla Bujor Barua has asked the Kamrup Metro administration, Police and other departments associated with city development to implement the directives within a specific time frame.

As per the directives a scientific study of the traffic on major roads and traffic congestion has to be conducted to find out causes and solution of traffic congestion.

The City Traffic police officials have been directed to consider and identify roadsides and other spaces for parking of vehicles. Such spaces identified for parking must be maintained in a manner that maximum vehicles can be parked in that area. The police has been asked to ensure that parking on roadsides does not hamper free flow of traffic.

“No Parking Zones” be clearly identified and it be ensured that wrong parking is not done. In case a vehicle is found to be wrongly parked, sufficient number of cranes be provided for towing the vehicle to the police station having jurisdiction over that area for appropriate action,” the high court said.

The police have been asked to create two Facebook accounts to encourage the commuters to send posts with photograph and videograph about traffic violators. Once the post is received on the Facebook account by the traffic police, the said agency would respond to the good samaritan that the complaint has been noted, with an assurance that action would be taken.

Two WhatsApp numbers must be provided with wide publicity. The public must be made aware of the WhatsApp numbers including through advertising boards at scheduled places, and behind the public transport buses etc.

The public must be encouraged to take photographs/ videographs of infraction of traffic regulations and forward the same to the Traffic Police Facebook accounts and WhatsApp numbers and appropriate action on receipt of such report be taken.

Traffic congestion points must be indicated by the public to F.M. Radio Stations popular in Guwahati. F.M. Radio Stations popular in Guwahati must be encouraged to broadcast traffic congestion points.

“The citizens be encouraged to point out the traffic points where traffic congestion is taking place so that police personnel can immediately be rushed to those areas for dealing with the situation. In case the police personnel are present, however, are not doing their job, citizens be encouraged to report on Whatsapp, Facebook with videograph; andappropriate and necessary action against such policemen be taken. An officer not below the rank of DIG be deputed by the Home Secretary, Assam in consultation with DGP, Assam, who shall monitor the Facebook and Whatsapp accounts and also ensure that action is taken on each and every report furnished by the citizens,” Gauhati High Court said.

The Transport Department has been directed to ensure that buses follow only allotted routes; and stop only at the provided bus stops.Bus stop grid with spacing of reasonable distance must be created intelligently and scientifically; and thereafter enforced.

The Commissioner of Police will summon all the relevant associations of the markets impressing on them relevance of installing CCTV cameras outside their shops. CCTV cameras will have to be installed with reasonably high resolution outside the shops at regular intervals so that the entire view of the roadside is clear. When such footage is required to accessed, same can be made available for not only considering violation of traffic rules and regulations, but also for monitoring slack police personnel and for investigation of crimes that might have taken place within the view of that camera.

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