Special task force to rein in traffic violators

In order to enforce lane discipline, specially on the dedicated Games lane during the Commonwealth Games, Delhi Traffic Police will deploy 100 specially trained traffic cops pulled in from all districts. These 100 men will be part of a Special Task Force (STF) which was formed on July 8.

Inadequate manpower, absence of technical gadgets and habitual traffic violations by Delhiites prompted Delhi Traffic Police to form the STF.

The STF, which has 20 men at present, has already set an exemplary record in managing traffic and curbing violations on roads at places like BRT corridor, railway stations, market areas among others.

"They are in general traffic police uniforms and are normally patrol on police bikes or vans. But their nature of policing is different," said Ajay Chadha, Special CP (Traffic). "They are merciless to the traffic norm violators and do not settle for less at all," he said.

"The STF has been formed to handle problems that cannot be managed by the general traffic policemen. It was the need of the hour to make enforcement stronger wherever possible. The STF's 20 members presently function on day-to-day assignments. They get special assignments each morning and patrol the assigned areas. But during the Games the STF's strength will be increased by at least four to five times the existing strength. They will patrol the Games lane to enforce lane driving," he said.

"Special powers will be given to them to issue challans to the traffic violators under Motor Vehicle Act 115. Under this special Act, one will have to pay a minimum R2,000 for any kind of traffic norm violation on the dedicated lane. They will also be empowered to impound vehicles," Chadha added.

The latest achievement of the STF is its haul of 116 vehicles from the 7-km stretch of the BRT corridor (Khanpur Depot to Moolchand) on a single day on August 16 and issuing challans of R1,000 each for dangerous driving under Motor Vehicle Act 184, which is normally exercised for commercial and heavy vehicles and also vehicles running at high speed.

"We have seen that issuing challans of R100 for traffic norm violations hardly made any difference. A softer and friendly stand by our men did not bring much relief to the public when it comes to using roads," said a senior officer of Traffic department.