Despite the fact that vehicular traffic in the city has doubled in the recent past, many important posts like the assistant commissioner
of police (traffic) have been lying vacant for over an year. Similarly, commissioner of police Praveen Dixit has formed two new traffic zones, Indora and MIDC, but failed to increase the manpower in the traffic department. Besides the vacant top post, the traffic department is also working with only half the sanctioned strength of personnel.
The post of assistant commissioner of police in the traffic department has been lying vacant since July 2008 when N C Hirekhan was transferred to Bhamragarh as Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO). Also, sources said that presently the department is short of two ACPs, three PIs, one API, 26 PSIs, seven ASIs and 182 constables. The state government had approved 400 posts for the traffic wing of the city police commissionerate when it came into existence in 1985.
The vehicular population has doubled to 12 lakh in the last two decades, so much so that the CP recently formed two new traffic zones, but the manpower allotted to the traffic cops has not gone up. “The vehicular population in Nagpur, including city and rural areas, has crossed 12 lakh. However, the Maharashtra home department has failed to provide enough traffic cops to deal with this,” said Janmanch president Ashok Lanjewar. He expressed concern that staff crunch is now considered ‘normal’ for the traffic department. He also wondered whether the decision of CP to form two more zones will have any impact. This has led to lesser cops manning the roads. He pointed out that the CP had failed to provide the basic infrastructure required to run the zonal offices.
of police (traffic) have been lying vacant for over an year. Similarly, commissioner of police Praveen Dixit has formed two new traffic zones, Indora and MIDC, but failed to increase the manpower in the traffic department. Besides the vacant top post, the traffic department is also working with only half the sanctioned strength of personnel.
The post of assistant commissioner of police in the traffic department has been lying vacant since July 2008 when N C Hirekhan was transferred to Bhamragarh as Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO). Also, sources said that presently the department is short of two ACPs, three PIs, one API, 26 PSIs, seven ASIs and 182 constables. The state government had approved 400 posts for the traffic wing of the city police commissionerate when it came into existence in 1985.
The vehicular population has doubled to 12 lakh in the last two decades, so much so that the CP recently formed two new traffic zones, but the manpower allotted to the traffic cops has not gone up. “The vehicular population in Nagpur, including city and rural areas, has crossed 12 lakh. However, the Maharashtra home department has failed to provide enough traffic cops to deal with this,” said Janmanch president Ashok Lanjewar. He expressed concern that staff crunch is now considered ‘normal’ for the traffic department. He also wondered whether the decision of CP to form two more zones will have any impact. This has led to lesser cops manning the roads. He pointed out that the CP had failed to provide the basic infrastructure required to run the zonal offices.