Brace for huge jams over next 5 days, Delhi traffic cops appeal for cooperation

Delhi Traffic Police said around 400 office staff have been asked to join about 3,000 personnel on the roads to manage traffic. Around 80 cranes will be used for removing vehicles that break down or are wrongly parked

Gearing up to deal with the year’s worst traffic jams over the next few days, beginning with Dhanteras on Tuesday, Delhi Traffic Police said even its office staff would be deployed on the roads and said it has sought help from the local police to deal with the looming congestion.

A traffic police officer said around 400 office staff have been tasked with joining about 3,000 field personnel on the roads. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photos)

But since the “roads cannot get any wider” when people will come out to shop, traffic police has appealed for cooperation from the public to help with the situation even as it promised “no mismanagement” from its end. The city has already been witnessing traffic congestion over the past week.

Garima Bhatnagar, joint CP (traffic), acknowledged that serious challenges lay ahead. “It is not going to be a one-day problem. Jams will begin on Tuesday and is expected to continue till Bhai Dooj (on Saturday),” Bhatnagar told Hindustan Times over phone.

She said that apart from utilising the full strength of traffic police, help has also been sought from Delhi Police for managing the situation. “We will deploy cranes at all important points so that vehicles that break down are quickly removed. Additional motorcycle patrols have also been deployed to quickly reach the sources of congestion,” said Bhatnagar.

“Around 80 cranes will be used for removing vehicles that break down or are poorly parked to block traffic. We will also be using around 110 motorcycle patrols for dealing with the jams,” said the officer.

But all efforts will be insufficient if the public does not cooperate, police confessed. “We know that people will come out in large numbers to shop. We need the people to use public transport, preferably the Metro. If they must use cars, they should try to share their transport. Parking issues are also expected,” said Bhatnagar.

“Expect market places to be heavily crowded and the routes to be jammed. Plan your trip accordingly and check traffic police’s social media accounts for advisories before stepping out. Please let the traffic helpline number (25844444/1095) know of congestions,” she appealed.

While jams are expected in most parts of the city, in south Delhi the roads to be avoided are Safdarjung Road, Tughlaq Road, Shanti Path, Rao Tula Rao Marg, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Lodhi Road and Aurobindo Marg, said traffic police.