IANS
New Delhi, Oct 11: Delhi's lieutenant-governor Tejinder Khanna on Wednesday roped in 80 Indian Air Force officials and 20 Navy officials to supervise the traffic system in the capital and launched a special drive to tame the rogue Blueline buses that have claimed 96 lives this year.
The defence personnel, in the capacity of 'special traffic wardens', have been issued identity cards and booklets containing slips for "noting the violations details of the vehicles committing visible traffic violations".
They will send information to the Delhi Traffic police every week. The traffic police will initiate necessary legal actions against violators on the basis of the violation slips, said Khanna.
Under the new warden scheme, the officers can inform the traffic control room via phones and SMS regarding any traffic problems like faulty traffic signals, broken down vehicles on the roads, encroachment, improver parking, causing obstruction or congestion.
"They may also suggest the nature of traffic problem and measures for bringing about improvement in traffic situation in any part of the city. They may also make suggestions about the road engineering changes for smooth flow of traffic," he added.
The development comes after two major accidents, involving privately operated Blueline buses, claming nine lives and injuring 10 in last four days.
According to police, phenomenal growth of human and vehicle population, lack of driving sense, low training and irresponsible behaviour of some road users are fuelling the capital's traffic woes.
Earlier in the day, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Goel drove a Blueline bus near Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's official residence to highlight the reckless driving of errant Blueline bus drivers. Read: BJP MLA 'drives' home the Blueline message
Goel was later arrested for driving without commercial licence and that too in the high-security VIP zone.
"I did this to drive home the message to the chief minister that Blueline buses are being run by inexperienced drivers like me, putting the lives of Delhiites at risk," Goel told reporters.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police impounded at least 200 such buses and prosecuted many drivers.