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CM in city, cops on bandobast, traffic violators have a field day

Nagpur: Despite a high court order for deployment of at least one traffic police personnel at each major traffic intersections, the Nagpur traffic police deployed its almost entire manpower to ensure a smooth passage to the VIP convoy of CM Uddhav Thackeray who was in the city to inaugurate the Gorewada international zoo on Sunday.



With police personnel missing from many parts of the city roads, violators had a free run as no authorities were there to catch them. The city traffic police, which booked about an average 2,300 violators per day in the first 25 days of January, making it a total of 60,411 violators, only 287 violators were booked in the city on Sunday. The Sonegaon traffic zone found no traffic violations at all.

On January 26, around 76 were nabbed for riding without a helmet and 35 motorists for riding triple seat. Around 40 four-wheeler drivers were booked for driving without a seat belt. With 73 cases, Sitabuldi zone reported the maximum violations, followed by MIDC (43), Sakkardara (31), Sadar and Ajni zones caught 28 each violators. Indora and Cotton Market traffic zones booked the least number of violators with 18 and 17 cases respectively.

However, the Telangkhedi Lake promenade, which is the hub for various celebrations in the city, was peaceful due to ongoing construction activity. This year, the traffic police had barricaded the Futala Lake Y-point road.

TOI too spotted that with no action, violations by motorists — especially youngsters — indulging in hooliganism at many places including Indora, Cotton Market and Nandanwan. Most of the youths were seen shouting and waving the national flag while driving dangerously and rashly.

A section of Nagpurians blamed a lack of police action as one of the major reasons why youngsters indulge in brazen violations. “For VIP bundobust, the police administration should have deputed personnel either from headquarters or police stations. Traffic police should not be deployed for any bundobust,” said a citizen.

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