Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 20: Inspector General of Traffic Police, Basant Rath, today said that he won’t allow violation of traffic rules in Kashmir in the garb of security. He said the norm violators including the VIPs won’t go unpunished.
The IGP Traffic while addressing a press conference here said that “everybody including the VIPs must follow the traffic rules. I won’t tolerate the norm violation at all.”
Asked about whether he will take action against VIPs as well, Basant said he specifically target the Government vehicles because it sends a strong message and people think if the vehicles of Government officials are not spared no one will be. “There is a different security status in Srinagar but I won’t allow anyone to violate traffic rules in the garb of security,” he said.
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Asked about the allegations regarding traffic signals being put on blinker mode during VIP movement, Basant said: “We have put an end to such kind of system in Jammu but keeping in view security situation in Srinagar, I won’t take any step which would end up by creating problems to IGP Kashmir.”
He said that such things can be avoided in view of the security status of Srinagar but the violation of norms won’t be tolerated at all.
The IGP said that he will make traffic cops accountable and would not let people of the Valley down.
Basant said: “Everyone knows how much corruption is here. I may not be able to end all the corruption but integrity matters to me. As long as I am here people have to behave well.”
“I have a strong belief that Police has only 20 percent role in traffic congestion while as other departments particularly transporters have a huge role to play in this. I do not believe that lack of man power is responsible for the poor services as I have no additional force in Jammu and I am in favor of changing the road behavior,” he said.
Admitting that there is mismanagement in traffic, Rath said “it would take time to control such kind of mismanagement. The female passengers who could be seen standing in the busses due to the overloading won’t be tolerated. It stands my responsibility to ensure seats for the female passengers in mini buses but the people have to cooperate in this regard.”
Asked about the traffic rules violation by school buses, the IGP said that the lack of cooperation by the parents make such violations happen. “We are focusing on that and everyone will face the law in case of any violation,” he said.
Referring to query about his priorities, Basant Rath said, “I have three priorities that include to curb the overloading, ensure seats for female passengers and to make traffic cops accountable.”
He further said that the social media has a pivotal role in streaming the traffic. “I believe that the social media is a platform that needs to be taken seriously. It has a power. I am on social media to keep vigil on the sufferings of commuters and the things happening on the roads. I get knowledgeable about various developments on social media. The social media would help a cop to become a better policeman.”
Referring to a query regarding not wearing the uniform, the IGP said: “What I am doing depends on what I have to chase. My predecessor also wore uniform and what they did is in front of you and what I have done in last 40 days is also visible to everyone. I will first focus on making things good and later I will wear uniform. I want to assure people that I won’t let them down.”
Asked about the non-implementation of fare list by transporters, the IGP said that the fare list has already been issued and it would take time to make things happen. “I don’t have any magic band which would help me in making the things good in one go,” he said.
Reacting over the matadors and other commercial vehicles, the IGP said that the 20-20 match being played by the transporters won’t be allowed. “Every single rule has to be followed. The overloading and other related things, which end up by creating hardships to the commuters and passengers won’t be tolerated,” he said.
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