Traffic police lack numbers in thriving Mohali

MOHALI: Hit by severe staff shortage, Mohali traffic police are struggling to keep a regular check on traffic violations.
For a population of around 13 lakh, Mohali traffic police just have 138 cops. Officials said there is need of 300 more cops to man district roads. As per the official data, Mohali traffic police have three inspectors, two sub-inspectors, 12 assistant sub-inspectors, nine women constables and 114 other personnel.



Due to poor staff strength, police have failed to keep a regular check on drunken driving, overspeeding and other traffic violations.

On the other hand, their task is getting difficult as 119 vehicles are registered in the district every day. Last year, 43,628 vehicles were registered in the district.

Mohali traffic police have one personnel against 316 vehicles in the district.

As per the data available with the state transport commissioner, 39,775 transport and 4,076 non-transport vehicles were registered in the district.

A senior official posted in the traffic police said, "They were struggling to stop traffic violators as they don't have adequate number of cops in the wing. When we set up nakas to check traffic violations, we have to remove cops from busy points."

He said to resolve this problem, they need 300 more cops in the traffic police.

Navdeep Asija, traffic adviser to Punjab government, said to keep a regular check on traffic violations, there is a need to deploy maximum cops with traffic police.

Tarun Rattan, SP, traffic and security, Mohali, refused to comment on the issue.