Pune: A city activist has written a letter to Commissioner of Police Rashmi Shukla over resolution of traffic problems in the city. In November, Shukla had asked citizens on social media to suggest ways to improve traffic conditions. Prashant Inamdar, Convenor, Pedestrians First, wrote a letter to her on Thursday.
"Illegal parking on roads and footpaths has become a severe problem, which aggravates traffic congestion and also generates unsafe conditions for road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. Stringent action is required on a continuing basis. At times, traffic police are handicapped as they do not have adequate tempos, cranes, jammers and manpower to act against violators. To supplement the resources of Traffic Police, we have proposed to CP / DCP(Traffic) a 'Traffic Police-Citizen Partnership' (TPCP) scheme," said Inamdar.
In his letter, he suggested that the TPCP will supplement the available equipment and manpower with the traffic police. It is also seen that the traffic police normally concentrate only on main roads. Illegal parking on local streets and in lanes or on footpaths is overlooked, the letter added.
Inamdar said Pedestrian First co-convenor Gauri Sarwate has done a detailed case study of a typical case of illegal parking in Lane no. 1 on Prabhat Road and adjoining lanes, which are entirely 'no parking' zones. He said, "Local citizens were mobilised to tackle the problem by asking vehicle drivers to desist from parking in the lanes. A couple of unemployed persons were paid to keep vigil in two shifts and educate vehicle owners that the lanes are 'no parking' zones. They should park vehicles on Prabhat Road, where it is legally allowed."
