Noida: Amid growing public frustration over persistent traffic congestion and encroachment in Gautam Budh Nagar (Noida), Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh, an IPS officer of 2000 batch, has taken stern action against several senior and junior traffic officials for negligence and failure to implement traffic management directives.
Commissioner’s Instructions Ignored
Despite clear instructions from the Police Commissioner to improve traffic flow and address recurring congestion issues, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Lakhan Singh and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pawan Kumar failed to act effectively. The directives included preparing an action and diversion plan, assigning duties to subordinates in writing, and streamlining traffic operations in the district.
However, non-compliance with these orders has led to repeated instances of traffic jams and illegal encroachments, particularly in busy areas of Noida and Greater Noida.
Review Exposes Shortcomings
A comprehensive review of the district’s traffic system was conducted on Saturday, during which multiple flaws in planning and implementation were found. The review exposed severe lapses in field monitoring, poor deployment of personnel, and lack of accountability at various levels of the traffic department.
In light of these findings–
- ACP (Traffic) Pawan Kumar has been suspended.
- DCP (Traffic) Lakhan Singh has been issued a notice seeking clarification regarding his failure to enforce the Commissioner’s directives.
Disciplinary Action Against 12 Personnel
In addition to action against senior officers, disciplinary measures have been taken against several field-level traffic personnel for their negligence:
- 1 Traffic Inspector (TI) and 2 Traffic Sub-Inspectors (TSI) have been penalized.
- In the orderly room proceedings, 1 Chief Constable and 4 Constables from the traffic unit have also faced disciplinary action.
Commissioner’s Warning
Commissioner Laxmi Singh reiterated the need for strict adherence to instructions aimed at improving urban mobility and warned of zero tolerance for negligence. “The public is directly impacted by poor traffic management. Officers and personnel who fail in their duties will be held accountable,” she stated.
The Road Ahead
Authorities are now under pressure to devise and implement a comprehensive traffic management and encroachment control strategy. Fresh directives are expected to be issued soon, focusing on:
- Deployment of traffic marshals at key choke points
- Use of technology for real-time monitoring
- Removal of roadside encroachments
- Accountability through written duty assignments
As Noida and Greater Noida continue to expand rapidly, the effectiveness of the police’s response to urban traffic challenges remains under close public and administrative scrutiny.
