Cops redrawing PM’s routes to minimise chaos

The Delhi police is reportedly in the process of redrawing its entire traffic plan for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s travel in the city. The main aim of a new traffic plan is to ensure that motorists and pedestrians do not suffer during the Mr Modi’s travel within the city.

A highly-placed source said the police was in the process of redrawing the entire traffic plan after Mr Modi expressed displeasure over the way his vehicular route was being managed, causing hardships to pedestrians and other motorists.

In a letter to police commissioner B.S. Bassi, SPG chief Vivek Srivastava said a detailed discussion on the matter was held to enforce a new plan to reduce the impact of the PM’s movement on traffic.

During a discussion with the SPG chief, special commissioner of police (traffic) Mukesh Chander is said to have pointed out that the high speed motorcade reduces the lead time available to the Delhi police personnel posted on traffic duty at various points on the route PM’s cavalcade for clearing the vehicular movement.

It was pointed out that the high speed motorcade movement was one of the reasons for restraints being put on pedestrian movement during its passage to avoid likelihood of mishaps, such as pedestrians crossing the path of the motorcade. Mr Chander is said to have suggested that slowing down of the motorcade would help in better anticipation and provide adequate lead time to cops to regulate traffic on the PM’s route.

In his secret note to the police chief, Mr Srivastava said that the announcement of “LFT (left) and not RTL (right to leave) should be used to plan traffic regulations on PM’s route.”

“In order to provide sufficient lead time, the motorcade will be rolled over following LFT to provide at least 60 seconds to local police, before it reaches the first traffic point enroute. For example, the lead car will reach GKP (Gymkhana Post Office) only after 60 seconds once the LFT is announced.”

The note said the policemen on duty should release the traffic once the motorcade crosses the point and has moved about 50 meters ahead without awaiting any further clearance. “The speed of motorcade will ordinarily be limited to a maximum of 80 km per hour to allow traffic personnel sufficient lead time for regulating the traffic and also ensure that no undue restrictions are put on pedestrian movement.”

The note said that traffic at Ashoka Road and similar other locations should not be restrained once the VVIP has enters the function location and the motorcade is suitably re-marshalled and parked. “Affixing barricade around the place where the motorcade is parked would suffice. However, no heavy vehicle should be permitted. Also no vehicle should be permitted to stop and enroute anywhere on the location.”

“Traffic moving on the opposite carriageway having dividers or that merging on to such carriageway from its connecting roads should not ordinarily be stopped, but allowed to proceed normally. Regarding inconvenience caused to judges of the high court and the Supreme Court during the motorcade movement, it was decided that the PSOs of such dignitaries would be further sensitised to ascertain in advance appropriate route for movement of dignitaries to avoid any inconvenience.”