Traffic police place barricades in Sahnewal to alleviate congestion

No sooner was the problem of traffic congestion highlighted in the columns of the Ludhiana Tribune than the traffic police affixed barricades on the humming main market road of Sahnewal. Not only this, the traffic police, under the directions of Ludhiana Police Commissioner, with the assistance of the local council, asked the shopkeepers to remain within their defined limits or face the music.

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Traffic congestion had assumed dangerous proportions in the town, and long queues had become the order of the day. The problem was highlighted in the columns of the Ludhiana Tribune, and the traffic police, acting on the spur of the moment, affixed the much-required barricades, as a result of which the traffic ran smoothly throughout the day and the commuters heaved a sigh of relief. Wrong and haphazard parking was not witnessed after the affixing of these barricades.

ACP (traffic) Gurpreet Singh informed this correspondent that their team collectively conducted the drive against violators, especially the ones who had parked their vehicles in a haphazard manner. “We shall now act sharply against the violators who refuse to abide by traffic rules and create problems for others. We shall issue challans specifically to those who park their vehicles wrongly and multiply problems for other commuters. Alongside those driving without helmets, without number plates, triple riders, and drunkards cannot go scot-free anymore. People driving without a licence and using motorcycles with modified silencers shall be taken to task,” the ACP added.

“We have begun making announcements around the town, especially for the shopkeepers to restrict themselves to designated limits and make way for the public and commuters. This mode of announcements shall follow for the next three to four days. From Monday onwards, we shall begin issuing challans and taking the violators to task. The rehris, acting in connivance with the shopkeepers, shall be removed, and we shall free the portion illegally occupied by the shopkeepers, thus creating good space for the commuters and shoppers,” he added.

The encroachments by the shopkeepers and the rehriwalas on both sides of the only main market road in the town made things difficult for residents; additionally, residents from nearby villages dreaded the idea of visiting the town. “We were fed up with informing the council about this problem daily, but they did not get the encroachments removed. Here the council removes the encroachers; there the rehri and shopkeepers are seen reassuming their illegally occupied space. No permanent solution has been sought out. The encroachers are usually left with a warning. Let’s hope that the police and the council are serious this time in getting the encroachments removed,” said a resident.