The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : City traffic police understaffed

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Thursday, Jul 03, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

City traffic police understaffed

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The Traffic Department of city police is working overtime to supplement its shortage of staff said Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), V.S.K. Kaumudi. As the city expands and the number of junctions increase, there is a mounting pressure on the traffic police, he said. The department has 1,000 traffic police personnel manning different points along with 1,700 homeguards for smooth movement of traffic.

With influx of people from all over the State to the capital, peak hour traffic has stretched and owing to the limited human resources at the department’s disposal, its personnel are working from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mr. Kaumudi said that G.O. 610 has put pressure on the department with many constables repatriated to non-Telangana regions. He informed that the recruitment process is under way and that it usually takes about a year for a recruit to be inducted into the force. Recently 600 constables have joined the force easing some of its problems.

At a recent meeting between the Traffic Department and officials of the GHMC, it was decided that joint teams from both the departments will conduct drives to remove encroachments in the city. The ‘pedestrianisation’ of Charminar will be implemented soon, he said adding that they are trying to enforce basic traffic rules.

When asked about zebra crossings around schools, he informed that at a meeting with various school principals, a proposal was made whereby schools could contribute 25 per cent of expenses towards painting zebra crossings. The department is also making concentrated efforts at installing signposts and zebra crossings all over city, he said.

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