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Jan. 25: Assam police have proposed the formation of a single authority with representatives from all stakeholders to streamline the chaotic traffic here.
The proposal for formation of Greater Guwahati Integrated Traffic Management Authority was made in a comprehensive plan prepared by the police department to improve the traffic scenario.
The plan, a copy of which The Telegraph has accessed, has suggested that an inter-disciplinary approach should be adopted for better traffic management by involving all the agencies concerned such as traffic police, transport department, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), public works department and Guwahati Municipal Corporation, among others.
The plan, which was prepared by the inspector-general of police (central-western range) L.R. Bishnoi, mentions that an integrated traffic management authority is required for better conceptualisation, planning, execution and enforcement of traffic-related issues.
The proposal will be submitted to state government for approval.
Bishnoi has also proposed that the number of traffic constables should be increased and powers should be delegated to head constables to penalise offenders breaking traffic rules.
In his report, the inspector-general identified the lack of parking space, mixing of slow and fast vehicles, no separate lane for cyclists, insufficient parking space in multi-storied residential buildings, absence of road markings, non-existent and uncovered footpaths, encroachment of footpaths by vendors, no railings on the footpaths, faulty road engineering, poor traffic sense of road users, lack of streetlights on some roads, poor road condition and lack of bus bays as some of the hurdles in proper traffic management.
Quoting the National Crime Records Bureau figures, the report said 79 per cent of the road accidents occurred because of driver faults, while 14 per cent happened because of the fault of pedestrians.
“Traffic management involves three Es — engineering, education and enforcement. While police are partially responsible for enforcement and education, the engineering domain is with other departments,” Bishnoi said.
The report also held erratic annual growth of vehicles here as one of the key reasons for growing traffic congestion.
It stated the total number of vehicles registered in the city went up from 28,201 in 2007-08 to 64,815 in 2011-12.
Giving the year-wise break-up of average daily registration of vehicles in the city, the report stated that in 2008-09 the figure was 80, which increased to 119 in 2009-10, 157 in 2010-11 and 178 in 2011-12.
Out of the total increase in the number of vehicles, 50 per cent are two-wheelers, while 28.8 per cent are cars and 0.5 per cent buses.
According to the report, out of a total of 1,078 road mishaps here in 2012, 234 were fatal and 844 were not.
Last year, a total of 246 lives were lost while 1,062 people were injured in road accidents here.
To ensure smooth flow of traffic, Bishnoi said rotaries were required at eight places, including Sarabbhati, Last Gate and Super Market, while foot over-bridges or under-passes needed to be constructed at 17 places.
He also suggested construction of bus bays at 17 locations.
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