Traffic cops let chaos rule Ahmedabad’s crossroads

Ever wondered why the city's crossroads are always in a chaotic state? Why is it that the traffic cops deployed to manage the traffic fail to maintain discipline on the roads? DNA finds out that police constables deployed at crossroads to manage the traffic are most of the time either busy collecting fines or taking their 'nth' tea break. They seem least bothered and least affected by the chaos around them.

The traffic cops deployed at every crossroads have at least two home guards to help them manage the traffic. However, they too are busy 'spotting' people who can be fined and are not seen handling the chaos on the roads. Sources in the traffic department said at every crossroads there are police constables and home guards deployed. "Apart from that we also conduct surprise checks at various junctions in the city," a senior cop in traffic department told DNA. 

A traffic cop, on the condition of anonymity told DNA that there is a fixed target that has been set by the department and "we need to penalise in such a manner". However, the cop also said they even let off many traffic violators after their 'target' is achieved.

To know the reality, DNA, talked to people who were walking past crossroads, at some city areas. "It is a routine thing. They don't even allow anyone who takes a wrong turn by mistake and at the same time are not bothered to control the traffic even when it is a heavy traffic jam," a commuter, Rajesh Patel, told DNA at Shyamal Crossroads at 2 pm on Saturday.