Bhopal: As temperatures continue to hover above 42 degrees Celsius during the ongoing Nautapa period, traffic police personnel in the city remain deployed for long hours at major intersections and busy roads under the blazing sun to regulate vehicular movement. With heatwave-like conditions prevailing in the city, even standing outdoors for a few minutes during afternoon hours has become difficult.
Despite the harsh weather, traffic personnel continue performing duties at busy junctions, often without adequate shade. The challenge has become more severe as the traffic department is already grappling with acute staff shortage.
According to police officials, the sanctioned strength of Bhopal traffic police is around 850 personnel, but the available force is only about 470. Of them, nearly 150 personnel remain deployed in offices or go on leave, leaving only around 350 traffic cops available daily for field duty across the city.
A senior traffic cop said that traffic police conduct checking drives at 29 points daily to monitor violations such as riding without helmets, not wearing seatbelts and triple riding. Besides this, around 65 points are designated every day for traffic regulation and management duties across the city. Officials admitted that the sanctioned strength has remained almost unchanged for years despite rapid increase in the city's population, expansion of city limits, development of new residential and commercial areas and a steep rise in the number of vehicles on roads.
Being the state capital, frequent VIP movement, protests, demonstrations and traffic diversion arrangements further add to the workload of traffic personnel. Senior police officers admitted that field personnel often perform duties for 9 to 10 hours a day and, due to staff shortage, many remain deployed at traffic points for over 12 hours, affecting their health.
Two traffic personnel deployed near Depot Square told TOI that traffic cops work in two shifts. The first shift remains on duty from 9 am to 1 pm and then again from 5 pm to 10 pm, while the second shift works continuously from 1 pm to 10 pm. They said personnel are generally deployed at fixed points but also have to move for VIP movement duties whenever required.
Requesting anonymity, the traffic personnel said managing traffic during afternoon hours has become particularly difficult due to the intense heat radiating from roads and vehicles.
The cops added that due to the extreme heat, many personnel suffer from heatstroke-like conditions. They also said that traffic personnel should at least be given weekly offs on a rotational basis so that they can spend some time with their families.
Senior police officials said efforts are being made to provide relief to field personnel. Arrangements including drinking water, ORS packets, glucose and temporary shade facilities are being provided at some traffic points. Umbrellas are also being distributed, and personnel are being advised to remain hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight wherever possible.
Additional Commissioner of Police Monika Shukla said police are trying to develop sitting spaces for traffic personnel near deployment points through public-private partnership. She added that a proposal has been sent to increase the sanctioned strength of the force.
To address manpower shortage, police are increasingly relying on technology such as CCTV cameras and drone-mounted cameras for traffic monitoring, she said. A temporary tent has also been installed near the Control Room junction for traffic personnel.
Police commissioner Sanjay Kumar said the department is arranging portable sheds larger than regular canopies that can be installed at traffic points. He said these sheds would not only provide relief to traffic personnel during afternoon hours but would also help vehicle drivers whose challans are issued at those points.
