BHUBANESWAR: After successful launch of ‘student traffic volunteer’ (STV) scheme in which college students currently regulate traffic in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for past one year, the commissionerate police now plans to introduce community traffic system in the smart city. Under the proposed community traffic volunteer (CTV) project, local youth will regulate traffic in their areas.“We have sent the proposal to the government for approval. Just like student traffic volunteers are paid Rs 100 for performing duty for three hours a day, we have proposed to the government for payment of some honorarium to the community traffic volunteers,” commissioner of police Y B Khurania told TOI. The top cop says that a number of young citizens have been approaching the police, seeking permission to help the police in regulating traffic at different junctions.At present, the expanding city’s traffic management at nearly 60 junctions rests on the shoulders of only 235-odd cops even as the population of vehicles reached over 11 lakh. “We often face crisis when the traffic police personnel are used in law and order duties, different enforcement activities and VIP programmes. The manpower strength should to be doubled for better traffic management,” said a traffic police officer. “Even though several traffic posts are being upgraded to automatic signal system, we still need manpower to regulate traffic at many other areas,” the officer said.To overcome the staff shortage, the commissionerate police had in May 2015 launched private traffic volunteer scheme and engaged nearly 180 volunteers, including a few from the transgender community and NGOs to assist the traffic cops in regulating traffic. The volunteers, who had volunteered to offer their service without taking any money from the police, later demanded remuneration. Nearly after a year, they discontinued their service, police sources said.However, the student traffic volunteer scheme, launched last year became a big hit. At present, 171 student traffic volunteers function in Bhubaneswar whereas their number is 100 in Cuttack. As per the scheme, the students are paid Rs 100-per-day for performing minimum three hours of duty. The state government recently extended the service to Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Balasore and Koraput.Less number of road accidents claimed more lives in the smart city. While altogether 175 persons died following 600 road accidents in 2015, a total of 186 people lost their lives in 598 mishaps in 2016, official statistics revealed. The state government recently approved creation of a second traffic police station here to control the burgeoning traffic in the growing capital.The proposed second traffic police station will come in Chandrasekharpur area here. The second traffic police station will control vehicular movements and manage traffic in Nandankanan, Chandrasekharpur, Infocity, Jatani, Tamando, Khandagiri, Chandaka and Nayapalli areas.

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