Hyderabad: Though traffic police using their mobile phones to photograph traffic violations and issue e-challans is a common sight at major traffic junctions, the same cops who have to man the busy signal points are caught watching their mobile phones while on duty. Motorists allege that many are seen watching videos or talking on their phones while on duty at busy junctions, ignoring signals and traffic flow.
There have been several instances where the cops sit at the traffic police booths poring over their mobiles and sometimes even talking on the phone.
In busy key junctions like Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, and a few other areas in the city, there have been reports of negligence by traffic police, where they failed to check the traffic signals, which require them to switch the signal systems from red to green manually.
In a report published in a vernacular daily, a similar incident under the Malakpet Traffic Police Station limits was reported where vehicles were left stuck at a red signal that failed to turn green even after the timer hit zero. Frustrated motorists tried to alert a woman constable in the traffic booth, but she was seen speaking on her mobile phone with earphones plugged in. Despite repeated gestures trying to capture her attention, she did not respond and continued with her phone call, showing what commuters called “complete indifference.
In another case at a major junction under the Jubilee Hills Traffic Police Station limits, vehicles blocked the ‘free left’ lane during a red signal. This is a common plight at all junctions in Hyderabad when it comes to lane discipline, where two, three-, and four-wheelers block the free left, leading to the slowing down of traffic and frustrating the public who have to move towards the left side.
While vehicles behind honked continuously to clear the lane, the constable on duty sat inside the booth and was reportedly watching videos on his phone. He did not attempt to step out, direct traffic, or clear the obstruction.
Motorists allege that such negligence is a routine sight. “Even during traffic jams, vehicle breakdowns, or signal malfunctions, some staff don’t respond. They act as if nothing happened,” said a daily commuter.
Senior officials like Traffic Inspectors and ACPs are confined to their offices and conduct field inspections as per their fixed schedule. They are visible only during VIP Convoy movements, when heavy rains flood the roads leading to major traffic jams, or when there is a major accident that disturbs the traffic flow.
“With no monitoring of ground-level staff, junctions get choked. If a vehicle breaks down, the protocol is to alert the next signal and regulate flow. But that’s not happening,” motorists allege. Commuters are demanding that the city Traffic Department enforce accountability, ensure regular field visits and monitoring by senior officials, and take disciplinary action.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
