Hats off to traffic police

KOCHI: The credit for the success of the traffic diversion goes solely to the city traffic police. Given the confusion over the new route and the pathetic condition of the roads, the traffic wing and the city police were on their toes to avert any traffic blocks in the city on Monday morning.The traffic police which is already hit by a severe shortage of manpower worked throughout the day on the road stretching from Kaloor to Chittoor Road. The traffic police, with the help of the local police, manned the traffic junctions and helped the drivers to divert the vehicles through the new route.City Police Commissioner M R Ajith Kumar reviewed the entire process and spoke to the traffic wardens regarding the alteration of the route. He visited each traffic junction to identify traffic snarls owing to the diversion of vehicles. Traffic Police Assistant Commissioner Baby Vinod said the traffic police were working under the sun for the entire day so that no traffic snarls occured on the diverted stretch. “The traffic police was fully functional and over 200 police personnel were present at various junctions. We were also assisted by the local police as more men were deputed to streamline the traffic on the new route. The traffic can be further smoothened with the induction of 40 more traffic wardens,” he said.Initially there was some confusion over the new route but the policemen stationed at various junctions gave timely guidance to the drivers. “Traffic snarls were seen only at some junctions. We will deploy more men in those places to normalise the traffic on Tuesday,” Baby Vinod said. “The majority of vehicles plying through the North RoB are two-wheelers and autorickshaws. This was revealed in a study conducted during the trial run. Once the repair of the alternative roads is completed, we will be able to handle the traffic easily until the rebuilding of the RoB is completed,” he said.