Guwahati, May 22: Guwahati traffic police today got new uniforms and 200 additional personnel to assist its existing 218 constables.

The new uniform - light blue shirt and dark blue pants - is expected to be more comfortable, suitable to the city's climatic conditions and more visible on roads. It will replace the white dress the traffic police have been wearing for decades.

The change has been taken up as a pilot project and is likely to be introduced in other districts if it is successful.

Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the project at Judges Field here this morning in presence of senior officers of the police department. Sonowal hoped that with the new uniform, the city police would don a new outlook towards their duty.

"We want Guwahati to be a prominent city in the entire Southeast Asia. For that, we will have to work together. The city police will have to create an atmosphere so that a person in trouble can approach them without any hesitation and get help," he said. The residents of Guwahati want the city to be beautiful where traffic is regulated properly. He said the city police personnel would have to earn the faith of people.

"The new uniform will be more comfortable and suitable to the climatic conditions of the city and visible on the city roads. Earlier, the cap was made of wool, which was uncomfortable in hot and humid weather. We hope the new dress will improve the working conditions of the city police," said Amanjeet Kaur, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Guwahati.

Kaur said this is the first time that the traffic police in Assam has changed their uniform. Within two-three days, all traffic police personnel across the city will be wearing the new uniform, she added.

Kaur said the additional 200 personnel of Assam police, engaged on traffic duty on deputation, will double the workforce of the city traffic police and significantly enhance the efficiency of the force.

Guwahati police commissioner Hiren Chandra Nath said at present the city police has 30 motorcycles and they have requested the government for another 50.

Reacting to a query regarding similarity of the new uniform with those used by private security agencies in the city, Nath said they would ask the security agencies to change their uniform.

The members of Birangana, the elite women Assam police force, took part in a parade on the occasion. Sonowal interacted with the women police personnel and advised them to work dedicatedly.