Traffic police on a demolition mission to solve chaos.

A team, which is being led by a new traffic chief, that is removing the encroachments on major roads. In its efforts to clear the traffic bottlenecks, the traffic police had initiated clearing encroachments across the city. They began this mission by getting rid of the encroachment on a service road by Lumbini Gardens in Nagavara.

P Harishekaran the Additional Commissioner of Police (traffic), is on a mission, to seek solutions to solve the traffic problems in the city. The officer who has been newly appointed, along with his team, is now trying to find the bottlenecks.

To begin with, he began his drive from Hebbal to KR Puram ORR and found out that the roadside encroachments are one of the major causes for the slow movement of traffic on the stretch. The police are now the asking encroachers to act all by themselves. If they don’t vacate in a week’s time, they would face severe action, the police said.

P Harishekaran said there are several reasons for traffic chaos. “We are working towards smooth traffic flow. So during my visit to KR Puram starting from Hebbal flyover, we found that in many places the arterial and service roads were encroached by commercial establishments and others.

It was clearly affecting the movement of vehicles and pedestrians.When I noticed Lumbini Gardens has encroached five feet space across its entrance on service road of Outer Ring Road, I have called up their manager. They immediately cleared the encroachment in the presence of our jurisdiction police,” Harishekaran said.

“If violators don’t pay heed to police request, they will be dealt seriously. Apart from booking a case (Karnataka Police Act), we will prepare a report with video and photo evidence and sent it to BBMP and BDA seeking demolition,” he added.

The drive will continue on Kempegowda International Road which will start from Cauvery Junction to KIA. Other stretches that will be monitored are Hebbal flyover to Tumkur Road through BEL Road, Town Hall to Kengeri, Bannerghatta Road, St John’s Circle to Anekal, KR Puram to Mahadevapura Road and ITPL.

“Most people we approached have agreed to clear encroachments. Since some have sought time, we have given a week time to correct their mistakes. After arterial and service encroachments, temporary fencing, the traffic cops will rid the pavements of pushcarts vendors,” an officer, who was part of the drive, said.