People must follow rules by habit

 It must have boosted the sagging image of the Uttar Pradesh, that on December 31, New Year’s eve, no untoward incident, either of drunken or rash driving or eve teasing was reported from the city. In an exclusive interview with The Lucknow Tribune, SP traffic, Gyan Prakash Chaturvedi, speaks about the efforts made to ensure an incident-free celebrations and their future plans

After putting up a good show on the December 31, the new SP traffic, Gyan PrakashChaturvedi is all geared to provide solutions to the traffic problems of the city.

 Taking over as SP Traffic as late as December 28, he had very little time to decide upon the plan of action for New Year’s Eve. When asked about the blue print he put forward for December 31, the SP said, “I made very stringent arrangements which included posting people armed with speed guns and breath analyser kits. Anybody flouting the rules were to be challaned irrespective of their position.”

According to Chaturvedi, more than 3000 people were issued challans between December 28 and December 31. Regular meetings with his police teams were held to understand and put in place a fool-proof system on New Year’s Eve. The police personnel also helped in the process of facilitating the traffic movement to help manage the heavy density of cars and two- wheelers.

Barricading near the LDA parking lots at Hazratganj, Lalbagh, Stadium and Saharaganj was done and no vehicles were allowed access. Even those keen on walking, were examined with the help of breath analysers which helped them to keep a check on the trouble makers who were under the influence of liquor.

Chaturvedi was all praise for his team comprising of  Circle Officers  Rajesh, Zafar, and Harendra. “The selfless efforts made by traffic inspectors Gopal and Devi Dayal were also commendable,” he said.                                          

On being asked about the future plan to spruce up traffic management in the city, he said, “Our effort would be educate the people about traffic rules. Challans are not a solution to the traffic problems. People do not want to learn, they keep on doing the same thing for which they are being challaned. They should be made aware of traffic rules and following them should come naturally to them. Then it becomes a habit.”

Giving an example, he said people who visit temples take their shoes off as this has become a habit and comes from within. The same should be with traffic rules, saidChaturvedi.   

The SP traffic informed that a series of measures were being taken to streamline the traffic system of Lucknow. A request for 70 CCTV cameras has already been forwarded to the government out of which 45 have been approved. The use of speed gun and implementation of traffic lights are being made compulsory.  

There are many challenges that Lucknow traffic police will have to face in future.Chaturvedi informs that once the plan to bring Metro in the city is executed, it will throw the traffic in total disarray. “If the railway over-bridge at the MG Marg is not completed till then, it would be a complete mess and make it very hard for the traffic police to manage the traffic. He has requested the authorities to first complete the work on railway-overbridge and then begin work on the metro.” Proper diversions will have to created before digging work for the metro begins, he said.

Chaturvedi said that his task was made easy by the support and confidence shown in him and his team by DIG Navneet Sikera, who himself was supervising the arrangements.