City’s new traffic plan put on hold

Varanasi: The new traffic arrangement planned to be introduced from January 1 has been delayed as traffic department will incorporate suggestions and feedback taken from locals and tourists in Varanasi.
Additional deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Dinesh Kumar Puri on Tuesday said, “Before enforcing the new route plan for auto and e-rickshaws, it was decided to take the feedback of locals. Besides, footfall of tourists and VIP movements have been very high in New Year.”
In view of these facts, Puri said, it was decided to extend the time of finalization of route plan for a week. Varanasi Municipal Corporation has started removal of encroachment to make city roads ready for new traffic plan, he said adding, works of listing of auto and e-rickshaws as per their routes have to be completed by additional regional transport office. With the completion of all these works the new traffic plan would come in practice in a week or two.
Regarding return of cycle rickshaws on roads especially in Old City, Puri said that under the ongoing drive of VMC the licences of those cycle rickshaws would also be checked to remove those plying illegally.
On January 22 new traffic arrangement was finalised by dividing district in four zones three zones in city area by the officials of traffic police, regional transport office and Varanasi Municipal Corporation under the supervision of district magistrate S Rajalingam and commissioner of police Ashok Mutha in order to make it effective from January 1. Zone wise colours of auto and e-rickshaws had also been finalised.