IT Chandigarh

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ABOUT US

The Union Territory of Chandigarh is known throughout the world for its excellent architecture and planning. The ‘City Beautiful’ boasts of broad roads that are flanked by landscaped greens. The city has the highest per capita income in the country as also the highest per capita vehicle ownership. The city is fast emerging as an information technology hub for the northern region and is being labeled as one of the fastest emerging metros. The bourgeoning population and the increasing vehicular congestion, however, have placed tremendous pressure on the city roads. During the last two decades the number of vehicles on the city roads has increased at a phenomenal pace. Today more than 6 lakh vehicles are registered in Chandigarh with 100 vehicles being added every day on the city roads. The city population has crossed the one million mark and heavy influx of IT professionals is expected with the IT boom. This increased congestion on the city roads has led to an increase in the accident rate & a gradual deterioration in the overall quality of driving experience. In year 2004 the city witnessed 152 deaths due to road accidents. The reduction of the accident rate & a qualitative improvement of the driving experience is the biggest challenge for the Chandigarh Traffic Police.
The Chandigarh Traffic Police was sanctioned as a separate unit, distinct from the District Police, in the year 1974. Today, it is headed by a Superintendent of Police who is assisted by a Deputy Superintendent of Police and Traffic Inspectors. The City is divided into three sub-divisions (see map) and traffic regulation in each is supervised by a separate Traffic Inspector. The internal administration is looked after by the Inspector (Administration). A Sub-Inspector is posted as the Incharge of the Challaning Branch at the Traffic Lines, Sector 29, where the compounding fee for traffic challans is received against receipt. The Traffic Lines also houses the Traffic Control Room from where the toll-free Traffic Helpline (1073) is operated under the supervision of the Inspector (Administration). The Internal Vigilance Cell headed by an independent Sub-Inspector is also located in the Sector 29 Traffic Lines. The Indoor Traffic auditorium is also located within the same premises.

The Road Safety Cell of the traffic police is located at the Chandigarh Traffic Park, Sector 23 A and is headed by a Sub-Inspector.

The traffic police has 3 interceptor vehicles and six motorcycle mobile patrols to assist the foot deployment at busy intersections and traffic signals. Two Recovery Vans and one heavy crane are deployed for the towing of wrongly parked vehicles. The city has two Auto-Pounds located near busy commercial areas to facilitate easy towing. The total strength of the traffic police including all ranks is around 230. This is further augmented by some 140 Home Guard Volunteers. The traffic police manpower was last sanctioned in 1974 after which the City has witnessed a 350% increase in population, a 250% increase in road length and a 12,000% increase in the number of registered vehicles. The estimated 40,000 odd cycle-rickshaws plying on the city roads further make the task of traffic management more challenging. The traffic police solicit the active support of its citizens in achieving a smooth flow of traffic and accident free roads

ROAD SAFETY & ENFORCEMENT GADGETS

Interceptors

In order to give more teeth to its enforcement efforts the traffic police has inducted three (3) state-of-the-art interceptor gypsies. Each vehicle is equipped with a Sony Handycam (for spot videography), a Falcon speed radar, an Alco sensor IV (to check drunken driving), a lux meter (to check light transmission of window films), a Sony voice recorder, a first-aid kit, a kodak digital camera, reflective cones and blinkers for night checking and a P.A. system.

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Autopounds

Chandigarh has the highest per capita vehicle ownership in the country and the traffic police has to grapple with the parking problems emanating from the same. Campaigns to combat wrong parking focus on keeping the circulation space within parking lots free of parked vehicles, on segregating two-wheelers from four-wheelers to optimize the utilization of parking space, on proper utilization of underground parking lots, on towing vehicles parked in an obstructive fashion and on using innovative enforcement tools like ‘wrong parking sticker challans’.
The traffic police has recently established an Autopound each in Sector 17 & 34 - the two commercial hubs of the city. This has facilitated easy towing of vehicles as most areas that are being monitored for wrong parking are located in and around these 2 sectors. The convenient location of the auto pound also makes it easier for the people to get their vehicles released after payment of compounding fee and towing charges applicable.

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Flashers

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The traffic police uses flashers for warning motorists about approaching traffic hazards. The flashers are especially useful at the time of late hour speed naka checking to warn the approaching motorists about the barriers deployed for slowing down vehicles.

Reflective jackets

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The traffic police uses special reflective jackets for late hour traffic regulation and naka checking. This increases visibility of the traffic staff and thus makes it safer for them to man the roads.

Road Safety Cones

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The traffic police utilizes PVC traffic cones with reflective sleeves to earmark parking enclosures or to warn traffic about hazardous spots. The cones are also utilzed for guiding traffic during late hour naka checking.

LED Light Batons

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The traffic police is equipped with LED Light traffic control batons that have high visibility and are useful for directing traffic at night and during late evening hours.The baton has a weather resistant body made of ABS high-impact plastic and the tube is made of PC transparent material. The baton also makes the traffic cop more visible to motorists thus increasing his safety.

Alcosensors

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The traffic police is equipped with 3 alcosensor devices for testing the Blood Alcohol concentration levels of drivers on the basis of their breath samples. The traffic police uses the ‘Alco-Sensor IV’ model manufactured by the U.S. based - Intoximeters Incorporated. Alcosensor IV is an automated handheld breath alcohol instrument. It offers a simple, accurate and economical method of determining a subject’s breath/blood alcohol level.

Digital Still Cameras

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The traffic police is equipped with 6 digital still cameras for recording photographic evidence of traffic violations. The 3.2 megapixel Kodak cx7300 camera is easy to use and the photographs that are clicked are transferred to the computer hard discs on a daily basis.

Handycams

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The traffic police is equipped with 3 state-of-the-art 4.6 megapixel Sony Handycams complete with extra infolithium rechargeable batteries, 20 times zoom, night shot capability, memory stick and digital still camera facility. The Handycams are deployed with the interceptor vehicles and are used for recording videographic evidence of traffic violations and episodes of unruly conduct by the offenders at the time of challaning.

Lux Meters

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The traffic police has inducted 5 handy light meters/lux meters to measure the light transmission of window glasses of cars. The German made MASTECH Ms-6610 is a digital lux meter capable of measuring light of intensity varying from 1 to 5 lakh lux. The device uses a simple photodetector and has a measuring accuracy of +/- 5%. The traffic police has also verified the accuracy by using comparison samples prepared with the help of CSIO, Chandigarh.

Speed Radars

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The traffic police uses state-of-the-art ‘Falcon’ Speed Radars manufactured by Kustom Signals, Inc. of U.S.A. The handy radar has a sturdy cast aluminium housing and is lightweight and easy to operate. The traffic police uses the main interceptor vehicle battery to power the radar for long periods. The traffic police is in the process of acquiring 2 Giant LCD Display panels that shall display the speed of vehicles on a screen visible till 200 yards for greater transparency. The Giant displays shall be also used for educating motorists and make them aware about their speed violations.

Modernization Plans

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Digital Eyewitness Speed Radar
The traffic police is making preliminary inquiries for acquiring a ‘Digital Eyewitness’ Speed Radar manufactured by Kustom Signals, Inc. of U.S.A. This is a video camera based speed radar that captures the real time video image of vehicles moving on the road from a distance. It also indicates the speed on the video screen. The camera can thus record the photographic evidence of speed violations and other violations committed by motorists. The recording is done directly on to a DVD and can be produced as evidence in case any motorist contests a challan. The speed radar employs Sony’s smallest zoom lens camera with 40:1 digital zoom ratio, sharp image, superior color and high quality night video capability with the highest resistance to headlight blooming and smearing. The controls are backlit for making operations easy during poor lighting conditions

Induction of Oxygen Concentrators

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The traffic police is making preliminary inquiries for the induction of Oxygen Concentrators for use by personnel on duty at highly congested traffic locations. Such locations have extremely high levels of pollution due to vehicular emissions. The traffic police personnel who are forced to breathe in this polluted environment for long periods of time are susceptible to respiratory and other health problems. The Chennai Traffic Police has recently purchased and installed 25 Oxygen Concentrators manufactured by AirSep Corp, USA. The traffic police personnel can thus breathe in healthy oxygen rich air after prescribed periods and give their lungs a respite. See details at http://www.digantik.com

Induction of REVA Electric Cars

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The traffic police is planning to induct three REVA electric cars for low speed non-interception patrolling duty. These cars shall replace the Enfield Bullet motorcycle being currently used for patrolling duty.

TRAFFIC SIGNS AND ROAD MARKINGS

TRAFFIC SIGNS AND ROAD MARKINGS
TRAFFIC SIGNS
Traffic signs are divided into 3 main categories

Mandatory/Regulatory signs
Cautionary signs
Information signs

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Red circle instructs what should not be done.

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Blue circle instructs what should be done.

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Triangle cautions.

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Blue rectangle informs.

ROAD MARKINGS

Road markings compliment the road signs. Markings are painted on the road to guide and regulate the traffic.

White paint is used for carriageway markings and yellow is used to mark restrictions.

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HAND SIGNALS

Hand signals are given by traffic police to control traffic in special/emergency situations.

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DIVIDING LINES

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A dividing line is a road marking formed by a white/yellow line or two parallel white/yellow lines (broken or continous) designed to seperate the parts of a road to be used by vehicles travelling in opposite directions.
Broken Line (or Broken Line to the left of a Continous Line)
You must keep to the left of these lines. You may cross them to overtake or make a turn, but you must only do so if it is safe

e-Gram Sampark Project takes off may 6,2007
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6
Punjab Governor and UT administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) will inaugurate the first e-Gram Sampark Project in the Union Territory at Khuda Jassu village tomorrow.

Continuing its commitment to bridge the digital divide, especially amongst the rural population, as many as 17 e-gram sampark centres are being set up in the UT.

Residents will be able to use all services available to sampark centres located in the urban areas.

Since these centres will provide rural population with an opportunity to access huge amount of information, using broadband connectivity, these centers will emerge as rural knowledge centres especially for the disadvantaged.

Information services in these centres will be provided free of cost, on the lines of Jan Sampark Services.

CITY HOME TO THE HOMELESS

Tribune Special

For the countless homeless from different parts of the country, City Beautiful is a safe haven, where they can stay with comfortable ease in public places without being bothered much, finds Chandigarh Tribune
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The authorities concerned fail to spare a thought for this mentally-challenged man, who lives in a bus shelter in Sector 27, Chandigarh, and others like him. — Tribune photo by Pravesh Chauhan

Sadhus find it in temples
Manish Sirhindi/Tribune News Service

Guaranteed two square meals a day and shelter on rainy days has made temples in Sector 19 the ideal place for around 25 sadhus, who live here without bothering to work for survival.

Having found conducive conditions, the sadhus have made the temples their home with some living here for years together. For Rajnesh Rao, one such Hindu sadhu, the temples have been home for the past three years. He came here from UP and decided to make the best of the available conditions. The temples offer langar (community kitchen) and devotees provide them with alms. The green belts along the Madhya Marg grant place to sleep and on rainy days the corridors of commercial establishments on the other side of the road offer them the required shelter.

The mood among the sadhus is upbeat as they do not have to struggle to meet the daily needs. The temples offer langar twice a day and the sadhus get enough alms from the devotees to meet their other needs. Clothes are also given by those visiting the shrines to pay obeisance.

The sadhus have converged here from different parts of the country. However, it is not just spirituality that brought them here but the fulfillment of their needs has played a role in keeping them at the temples.

Unperturbed by the impending dangers of being killed in case a speeding vehicle on the Madhya Marg goes out of control and runs them own, the sadhus use the green belts to sleep during day and at night.

Unlike beggars, these sadhus lead their lives with pride. Baba Dalip, another sadhu who has been staying here for the past seven years, stated, “We never ask for alms. It is the wish of the devotees. In case someone wants to offer something, he should come to us. We never approach anyone,” he said.

Though many sadhus lead a nomadic live, those staying at the Sector 19 temples like it so much that they refuse to leave the place. Another sadhu said, “We visit many places, but ultimately we come back here.”

…patients on PGI lawns
Arun Sharma/Tribune News Service

Aklu Mahato has been staying under the trees on the lawns of the PGI near the main gate for the past three years. The 50-year-old resident of Betia district in Bihar returned from his village with a heavy heart when the family found him a burden on them.

“I left my home in 1977 for the first time and went to Ludhiana to work as a rickshaw-puller with many others from my village,” said Aklu, adding that “after the death of my mother, my father remarried and my stepmother never bothered about my marriage.”

Five years ago, Aklu developed problems of kidney stone and even after many surgeries, he has problems in leading a normal life.

“I cannot work for my livelihood and when I went to my village two years ago, even my brother ignored me. However, I managed some money to come back and since then I have never thought of going back to my home,” he said.

Similarly, Mohan of Katghona village in Nainital district of Uttarakhand, is lying under the ramp of Research Block-A, PGI. Mohan left his home for New Delhi in 1982 and started working in dhabas. After a few years, he got married and shifted to Chandigarh. Now suffering from tuberculosis, he has been lying alone under the ramp, awaiting death slowly. With a skeletal body, Mohan is even unable to consume food brought to him by people staying around him from langars. “Since I don’t have money, it is now useless to go to the PGI as I was asked to deposit money for medicines when I had gone there on April 17 last,” he said.

“The staff at Emergency asked me to shell out Rs 200 and get a medicine, and when I showed my inability, they asked me to go to GMSH, Sector 16,” said Mohan. Then an acquaintance of Mohan found him outside the hospital and shifted him to the GMSH. “The GMSH referred me back to the PGI on May 3, but I have no option than to stay here outside as I don’t have any money to pay them,” said Mohan

…others in bus shelters
Akash Ghai/Tribune News Service

“Bus shelters are the property of “sarkaar” (government), which is elected by people; so it belongs to me, and it is but natural that I will stay here.”

These sentiments were echoed by a mentally-challenged man who has made the bus shelter in Sector 27 on the road diving Sectors 27 and 30 his home.

No one in the entire locality, whom the Tribune correspondent contacted, knew where this aged man came from.

The man himself does not know his past, or where he came from.

He has made the bus shelter his “permanent home” by putting his belongings, including a blanket, a torn sheet and two or three sacks under the sitting bench there.

“The man came as a visitor to this place nearly three months ago and slowly made the place his permanent ‘quarters’ by adding his ‘belongings’. We have been closely watching him and feel that he needs to be treated and rehabilitated at a proper place by the administration. Residents, particularly women and children, do not feel safe with him around because they fear unruly behaviour because of his unstable mental condition,” said Deepak Sharma, a resident of Sector 27.

He is not the only one. At least three more such mentally challenged persons were traced by Chandigarh Tribune at different places in the city.

An aged woman at the Inter-State Bus Terminus and a man at the Sector 15 market could be seen moving around in the area in a mentally unstable condition. They move around the area and return to their ‘haven’ — bus shelters. Another mentally-challenged woman in Sector 15 moves around in the area bare feet. She cannot even converse. The mentally-unstable man moves about in a semi-conscious state, murmuring all the time.

City residents feel it is a piquant situation to see the administration remain unmoved to the plight of the mentally challenged on city roads. “We have heard of the Mental Health Act for the safety of the mentally ill. However, it doesn’t seem that it is being made use of,” a local resident said.