The News on Sunday: What is your strategy with regards to vehicular traffic and encroachments in the city, and how is it different from that of your predecessors?

Athar Waheed: It’s different as our focus is not on slapping heavy fines. Instead, our primary objective is to clear the traffic mess. So, you can say that we’ve shifted our focus from issuing challans to maintaining traffic on city roads.

That said, we feel that it’s the affluent who should be made to pay heavy fines instead of the common man. In my opinion, the owner of a luxury vehicle is more liable to be challaned heavily than a rickshaw driver. We should always keep in mind the difference in their financial status.

Moreover, removing encroachments on the roads in order to ensure smooth traffic flow is an integral part of our planning. The city traffic police have lodged as many as 2,800 FIRs and apprehended those involved in encroaching upon government as well as private lands. Additionally, so far 145 illegal parking stands have been removed across the city.

TNS: Tell us if any surveys have been conducted to identify traffic congestion points in the city.

AW: There are 62 choking points in the city we’ve identified. Besides, there are over 800 encroachment spots on major roads. That’s why special arrangements have been made to clear the mess. Around 130 motorcycle squads of field officers have been formed to ensure that traffic flows smoothly at these points.

Not so long ago, we’d get 10 to 15 calls daily complaining of traffic congestion at these points. However, the situation on ground has improved now. Today, we only get a call or two.

TNS: Which government institutions are providing assistance to city traffic police in these endeavours?

AW: Well, we are working in coordination with 1122 Rescue, Police, Safe City Authorities and city administration to monitor traffic on a regular basis. Thanks to real-time monitoring, we are now fully able to take timely actions in case of a traffic snarl-up, a mishap, or in response to a complaint against the traffic wardens themselves.

Meanwhile, in order to avoid traffic congestion, the traffic police have also provided 33 pushcarts. 675 others were given away by the city government for roadside vendors. You can see these beautiful pushcarts in Shadman, Chuburji and along the Canal Road.

“We are now in the process of introducing Diamond lanes for them [motorcyclists]. The plan is to create them on all city roads.”

Everyone should be clear about this: the city traffic police have a zero-tolerance policy with regard to encroachments. The high number of cases registered against encroachers is definitely indicative of what we think about them.

TNS: Parking stands in busy marketplaces are another impediment to traffic flow. How do you plan to deal with it?

AW: There are at least 200 such points in the city. Four of these points need urgent attention of the authorities. These are Liberty Market, Hall Road, Shah Alam Market and Neela Gunbad. We have recommended proper maintenance through public-private partnership.

TNS: How do you hope to deal with the black sheep within the department?

AW: So far, we’ve heard only five cases of misconduct and corruption. Those found guilty in an inquiry were suspended from service.

I must mention here that special arrangements have been made to impart training to the traffic cops found guilty of misconduct. The idea is to help them mend their ways. If they don’t avail this last chance, they will be thrown out of the department.

TNS: Is there a policy with regard to assessing the performance of the cops on the basis of the number of challans they issue?

AW: No. In fact, their performance is strictly going to be gauged on the basis of their efficiency in clearing the traffic mess.

TNS: Are there any plans to reorganise the department?

AW: Yes, of course. In order to reorganise the human resource at the supervisory level, we plan to operate with six SPs. The city traffic police are currently being managed by two SPs.

TNS: Could you please sum up your other policies for us?

AW: Well, the department has already implemented the policy of wearing safety helmets for motorbike riders. We are now in the process of introducing Diamond lanes for them [motorcyclists]. The plan is to create them on all city roads.

Ahsan Zia is a print and broadcast journalist