Traffic police on their toes

KOCHI: In the wake of increasing traffic congestion in the city, the traffic police have begun monitoring the rules more stringently. The police have been deployed at each junction and patrolling and checking are being carried out to minimise chaos on the roads.Several people have been caught for violating the rules.The traffic in the city is likely to go haywire during the Onam season.Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Rafique said that traffic department has plans to curb traffic during the Onam season. We have chalked out the most congested places in the city and serious discussions are on to minimise traffic at these spots, he said.“The traffic police have been enforcing the law for the last one week. We are strictly monitoring the cases of violation. Besides, traffic signals are active till late in the night. We also see that pedestrians cross the road only on zebra crossings. Police have been deployed in every junction to see that vehicles don’t create a block by taking the left side,” Muhammad Rafique said.He said that the traffic department was facing staff shortage. “The traffic problem can be easily solved if we get additional staff. We have requested the City Commissioner to appoint more police. One cannot blame the traffic police alone for the increasing number of accidents in the city, the roads are also in bad condition,” he said.