Violations continue on roads in ‘No tolerance zones’

Despite the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate have declared ‘No tolerance zones’ where any traffic violation invite immediate action, shopkeepers and roadside vendors are having scant regards about the police initiative.

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Earlier due to the byelections, the police were busy in poll duties due to which violations on roads in these areas had increased. Now the police have increased challaning and action but shopkeepers and roadside vendors are not abiding by traffic rules. The violation usually increases during evening hours, which also results in traffic jams.

Notably in the first phase, eight roads had been declared as no-tolerance zones. These are Field Ganj road from Jagraon bridge to Civil Hospital, both way, Rahon Road, Jodhewal Chowk to Jagirpur Road cut, Bhamian Road from New Onkar Vihar cut to Bhamian Colony cut, Chandigarh Road from Government High School, Mundian cut to 33-ft road vegetable market stretch, Chimney Road, Canal bridge, Pakhowal, to indoor stadium both sides, Atam Park to Libra cut, Dugri road, both way, and Dandi Swami Chowk to DMC Hospital cut.

During a survey conducted on these stretches, violations were quite visible on the Field Ganj road from the Jagraon bridge to the Civil Hospital. Earlier when the police launched the initiative, the Field Ganj road had literally turned free of encroachments. On the road, traffic always get stuck in jams as shopkeepers had extended their shops onto the road and a large number of carts had further escalated the problem. Now again, rehris have encroached upon space and some traders have also extended their shops on the road. Wrongly parked vehicles are also a routine affair on the road.

Similar violations were noticed on the Pakhowal to Indoor Stadium, Dandi Swami chowk to DMCH cut, Chimney road, Jodhewal chowk to Jagirpur road cut and Atam Park to Libra cut. Pertinently, most of the violations start on these roads during evening hours when the number of roadside vendors increases and they encroach upon space.

Notably, before the launch of the initiative, Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma himself had held meetings with shopkeepers located on these roads and had passed a message to them for ensuring compliance of the orders.

Sharma has already hinted that eight more roads would be declared as no tolerance zones soon and the police would dominate the stretches to ensure compliance. The CP had also said the police were going to impose strict rules on these roads to ensure 100 per cent compliance, which means, no rehri/ferri would be allowed on the stretches and none would be allowed to drive after drinking, without licence or triple riding, etc. No tolerance means, the police were going to act tough against violators as these were busy roads and the police could not allow defaulters to risk the lives of people.