PESHAWAR: The second phase of traffic warden service was launched here on Sunday, covering more areas of Peshawar to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

Chief traffic officer SSP Wahid Mehmood launched the second phase at the traffic police headquarters at GT Road. In this phase, traffic warden service has been extended from Khyber Road to the GT Road and up to the Motorway Bridge.

The warden service was launched in June this year and it initially covered the area between the University Road and Cantonment area.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr Mehmood said that at present the strength of traffic police was over 1,300 personnel, while induction of 669 more would complete later this year.

He said that the warden service would have three SPs and 12 DSPs for managing the traffic affairs. He said that under the slogan of ‘educate, facilitate and regulate with courtesy’, the traffic DJs on roads had been guiding the road users on traffic rules. He said that wardens had got new uniform, while colour scheme of their vehicles and motorcycles had also been changed.

The SSP said that they offered services, including accident recovery unit, traffic mobile workshop, emergency diversion plan unit, education and awareness unit, traffic monitoring through video surveillance system, snap checking and traffic helpline 1915.

He said that they had also introduced traffic engineering section, traffic investigation unit for traffic offences, e-challan system, mobile driving licence unit and driving schools with simulators, central signal control system and traffic FM management unit.

He said that traffic wardens were selected by the KP Public Service Commission and trained at the Motorway Police Academy. In addition to this, 8333 SMS facility has been offering traffic-related updates and help about alternate route to commuters.

Mr Mehmood said that Peshawar traffic warden police would be managing a total of 145 static and 117 mobile duty points with its total strength of over 1,900. He said that at present 101 static and 23 mobile points were being managed by them. The induction of additional personnel would enable the traffic cops to manage 46 more static points and 94 mobile spots.

He said that in the third phase the remaining parts of Peshawar would be covered that included Dalazak Road, Charsadda Road, Circular and Kohat roads and parts of the interior parts of city. He hoped that the provincial government would soon enhance salary package of the traffic police.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2015

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