E-Paper
Consider increasing number of traffic cops, court tells state
The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the state government to consider increasing the strength of traffic police branch of city police in the wake of increased vehicular traffic.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the state government to consider increasing the strength of traffic police branch of city police in the wake of increased vehicular traffic.
Division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice S.C. Dharmadhikari issued the directive following a submission from government pleader Dhairsheel Nalavade that ever increasing population and consequent increase in vehicles had made traffic conditions in the city vulnerable.
Nalavade defended the traffic policemen saying about 17 lakh vehicles have been registered in Mumbai since 2008, while the total length of road is more than 2,000 km and it had become difficult for the 2,600 traffic constables to manage the traffic.
He was replying to a public interest litigation filed by the Bombay Bar Association raising concern about traffic conditions in the city.
Lawyer Armin Wandrewala has filed an intervention application in the PIL raising concern about declining concern about the rights of pedestrians — especially at signals.
Nalavade stated that apart from CCTV cameras, state-of-art Area Traffic Systems were installed at 253 junctions in the city to manage traffic in a better way.
The pleader welcomed some suggestions from Armin Wandrewala saying Traffic Advisory Committee could take the same into consideration.
The judges, however, questioned if such a committee comprising higher police officials could meet regularly and directed the government pleader to submit minutes of all meetings of the committee since January.
The court has also directed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to complete painting of zebra crossings across the city by September 30 after Wandrewala pointed out lack of zebra crossing at many crucial junctions.
The PIL will come up for further hearing after three weeks.
Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.
