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Police barricade plan draws flak from activists in Vellore
The WhatsApp announcement of Sathuvachari police inspector I Pughazhendhi on Thursday that the zonal office of the Indian Bank in Vellore had sponsored 10 new barricades to be placed on the national highways evoked strong condemnation from social activists who wanted to know why the police preferred barricades over strict enforcement of traffic rules.
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Vellore
It has been a practice among the district police to place metal barricades, on both national highways and interior roads as part of their efforts to regulate traffic and avoid accidents.
When asked about the barricades on national highways, officials belonging to the NHAI’s Krishnagiri PIU (Project Implementation Unit) said, “the police must obtain permission from us before placing barricades on NHs. As the court ruled in their favour 4 months ago, we have no role now.”
NHAI created four and six-lane highways to ensure quick travel and reduce drivers’ fatigue. “But this gets obstructed, when police put up barricades” says a former DSP and ex-nodal officer in NH-Vellore Traffic Services.
“Though barricades must give adequate time and space for the drivers to negotiate the curves, the placement on NHs in Vellore does not meet the standards” he added.
“When buses find it difficult to curve cross the barricaded stretch, one can understand how multi axle vehicles will struggle in such points. This results in traffic jam and defeats the purpose of four and six-lanes,” he added.
Police officials, speaking on a condition of anonymity said “we use barricades to control traffic as we lack staff to guard each point.” Officials, had no answer when asked why stiff fines and campaigning was not resorted to overcome the issue.
“Broad roads are created to ensure hassle-free flow of traffic, but the polices’ action is working opposite to this, said social activist K Sathiyamoorthy.
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