Nagpur: Taking a cue from the Army’s practice of surprise inspections, Nagpur traffic police have begun daily spot checks to ensure on-duty personnel remain at their designated points. DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar said the initiative was aimed at improving the visibility of traffic police on city roads.The traffic department has 625 personnel and officers, supported by around 500 home guards, deployed across the city’s 171 major intersections to regulate vehicular movement and enforce traffic rules. Under the new system, an assistant police inspector (API)-rank officer checks 20 locations each in the morning, afternoon and night, covering 60 traffic points a day.During inspections, the officer checks whether personnel are present and performing their duties. If a cop is found absent without authorisation, a notice is issued seeking an explanation.“I wanted traffic police to be present on roads, which leads to better compliance with rules. So, I decided to carry out surprise checks, as is done in the Indian Army. Every night, an API-level officer is given a list of 60 spots issued from my office. The officer is unaware beforehand and has to visit the locations from morning till night and submit reports,” Mirkhelkar told TOI.According to Mirkhelkar, the system has already increased the deployment of traffic personnel at several locations, particularly at night. The department expects a visible police presence to deter violations.The move comes amid persistent traffic problems across the city. Experts said enforcement also needs to be strengthened against wrong-side driving and roadside parking.“Illegal parking and the tendency of autorickshaw drivers to stop or park on busy roads continue to cause congestion at several locations, particularly on Wardha Road, Kingsway Road, near the railway station, Cotton Market Road, Itwari and Mahal. Traffic police will have to focus on these violations while ensuring regular deployment of personnel,” they said.Officials said the surprise inspections would continue to improve discipline among traffic personnel and make enforcement more consistent across the city.
