Set up panel to monitor city traffic, says HC
The Bombay High Court recently directed the appointment of a ten-member high-power committee (HPC) headed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to monitor the city’s traffic and suggest ways to improve its management.
“ …it appears to the court that it would be in the fitness of things to appoint a high-power committee to monitor the traffic situation in Mumbai and suggest the required corrective and remedial measures for ensuring smooth and disciplined vehicular as well as pedestrian traffic,” Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Nitin Jamdar observed.
The state government has been asked to appoint the committee by June 7. The committee will also include the principal secretaries of the Urban Development and Transport departments, the transport commissioner of Maharashtra, Joint Commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Additional Municipal Commissioner (Roads), Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), an office-bearer of the Western India Automobile Association and two citizens of Mumbai. The committee has been asked to submit its report to the court within three months.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vivek Phansalkar had informed the High Court that the police department would fill up the 676 vacant posts for constables and head constables within two months. He added that the technology used for traffic signals and CCTV cameras installed across the city would also be upgraded.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by the Bombay Bar Association (BBA) and the Western India Automobile Association seeking greater traffic safety and strict adherence of traffic norms in the city. The case has been adjourned till August 2.
In an affidavit submitted by the state government in February, the High Court was told, “After a delegation of officers visited London to study the operation of CCTV cameras for traffic management there, a proposal regarding the installation of more than 5,000 cameras is on the anvil. It is expected that these cameras will be operational within a year,” the affidavit stated.
According to the state government, 1,27,969 traffic offences were registered in January this year and fines amounting to Rs 1.59 crore were collected.