2 weeks Ago By Payal Dhawan
Ludhiana: Police have rolled out a citywide strategy to combat worsening traffic congestion, with 500 officers deployed across newly restructured zones and a fleet of 92 patrol vehicles now operating 24/7 to ensure faster response times and improved road management. As part of the initiative, police commissioner Swapan Sharma on Saturday announced the expansion of traffic zones from four to eight, each managed by a dedicated in-charge officer. The move is aimed at decentralising decision-making and improving on-the-spot traffic control.
"Traffic and police control room (PCR) functions have now been integrated. Each zone in-charge has the authority to impose vehicle restrictions, call for reinforcements, and introduce one-way corridors as required," Sharma said during the official flag-off ceremony. Ten new emergency response system (ERS) vehicles were also introduced, part of a fleet that includes 50 four-wheelers and 40 two-wheelers, all set to patrol Ludhiana's busiest roads.
GPS (global positioning system) devices will soon be installed in all vehicles to allow real-time tracking from the city's integrated control and command centre. New Zoning Structure Ludhiana has been divided into two main regions, each overseen by a station house officer (SHO). Each SHO manages four traffic zones, bringing the total number of zones to eight.
Zone in-charges, all below the rank of assistant sub-inspector (ASI), are now stationed full-time in their areas to coordinate PCR response and direct traffic police where needed. Officers will focus on high-traffic locations such as the railway station, bus stand, Ferozepur Road, and the Verka milk plant. School zones will receive special attention during opening and dispersal hours to avoid bottlenecks.
Local complaints and congestion reports will also guide targeted deployments. Public Reporting Encouraged Commissioner Sharma urged residents to report traffic issues directly to the 112 police helpline, assuring swift action by zone-level teams. "We are counting on citizens to be active participants in solving Ludhiana's traffic problem," he said.
Next Phase in the Works In the first phase, police will focus on the city's eight most congested roads. Further expansion to additional areas is planned in the coming weeks. Permanent halt points in each zone are also being upgraded to support faster deployment and monitoring.
"This model brings us closer to real-time traffic enforcement and smarter policing," Sharma said. MSID:: 120433142 413 |.
