HQ gets tough on traffic cop presence in school zones
Times of India | 19 November 2024
Kolkata: All traffic guard OCs have been asked to ensure that there is "adequate deployment" outside all schools, both when the school convenes and disperses, depending on the number of students who study there. The most important aspect, Lalbazar claimed, was to prioritise the safety and security of students.
This police presence should be at points where students are picked up or dropped off and the entire planning and manpower deployment has to be shared with Lalbazar at the earliest. In addition, traffic guards must conduct Safe Drive Save Life programmes at all schools and must include drivers of pool cars and school buses, as well as their owners. If required, the drivers must be sent for retraining courses.
The instructions have been passed to all 26 traffic guards under Kolkata Police following three consecutive accidents involving school students or school vehicles in the past week.
"The safety of children and students should be the top priority," the order stated.
On Monday, 73 pool car owners from schools like St James, Pratt Memorial, Don Bosco and Mahadevi Birla, attended a nearly two-hour refresher course organized by Park Circus Traffic Guard.
Lalbazar has also asked individual guards to meet school administrations and discuss if any further changes can be brought into the dispersal system to help ease traffic further.
"While we solved most of the raging issues regarding parking and dispersal outside schools last year, there are a few spots, especially in port and added areas of Kolkata, where we feel certain changes can be brought about. For this, we will need cooperation from not just schools but even from other crucial stakeholders, like guardians, pool car and bus operators, and individual drivers who come to drop off students," an officer said.
The police said that among the school administrations they wish to meet are those in Joka, Kiddepore and Kasba.
"There are schools that have two shifts. Often, as one section awaits entry, the other gets dispersed. This creates pressure on the main road outside," an officer said.