Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana January 25 Ludhiana popularly known as the Manchester of India has a dubious distinction of losing one precious life and leaving another injured in more than one road accidents reported to the police daily due to clogged roads and traffic chaos which at times also lead to road rage cases. Taking cognisance of the situation which turns grim during morning and evening hours the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police have initiated a slew of measures to ease traffic congestion and improve road safety in the industrial city. Anti-encroachment drive to ease traffic congestion; practical implementable solutions controlling stray animal menace reaching out to the students and youth and recognition of Good Samaritans and dedicated WhatsApp helpline are some of the major steps initiated under a special drive launched by the police to make the roads safer for commuters in Ludhiana. Sharing the initiatives which are in consonance with the ongoing month-long road safety celebrations the Commissioner of Police (CP) Rakesh Agrawal told The Tribune on Monday that the enforcement of traffic rules and awareness activities will go side by side to maintain the check and balance on the violations. The Commissionerate Police had been observing the road safety month under the theme “Sadak suraksha jeevan raksha” since January 18 and holding daily activities involving the local residents and motorists to spread the message of road safety. To check the violation of traffic rules and catch the violators around 250 traffic police personnel have been deputed at 134 strategic points which were known for witnessing traffic chaos in different parts of the city. ADCP Traffic Pragya Jain who is spearheading the road safety awareness drive said a special anti-encroachment drive was underway to remove the temporary and permanent obstacles coming in way of smooth flow of vehicular traffic. Implementing the practical implementable solutions the cops were putting reflector tapes making planned diversions checking the presence of stray animals on roads to prevent injury to life and limb besides other road safety measures. Under an outreach programme the police were reaching out to the students and youngsters through short videos audio films and seeking their active participation in road safety awareness drive by enacting street plays and holding various competitions. To encourage people and ensure timely help at the accident spot the Good Samaritans who help road traffic accident victims and help save the precious lives were being awarded recognition and appreciation certificates. Launching a dedicated WhatsApp helpline for the crowdsourcing of information via social media Jain said the commuters can now share photos videos text and audio messages regarding traffic congestion and suggestions to make Ludhiana traffic better at 7837018575. “A special team has been constituted to act immediately on all the information received at the traffic helpline” she disclosed. Laying special focus on the road safety of women and children the ADCP Traffic has appealed to the women drivers to wear helmets avoid loose dupattas on two-wheelers which may cause injuries and tuck in their toddlers safely while travelling by cars.

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