CUTTACK: In a bid to be able to deal with the chaotic traffic conditions more efficiently, the Commissionerate police has announced a toll-free helpline for the commuting public of the millennium city to report problems and seek assistance.
The toll-free number 1095 will be operational within a week. The helpline would function from the Traffic Tower at Madhupatna with dedicated personnel at its disposal. The commuting public can call up the number to inform the helpline about traffic congestions, snarls, violations and accidents. Teams would be rushed to the areas to attend to the problems and clear the roads immediately.
The system, to be introduced for the first time in the State, has special relevance for Cuttack considering its unique traffic characteristics. Traffic congestions can occur at any places all of a sudden, thanks to narrow roads.
“Thus, while it is not possible to identify all the vulnerable zones and depute personnel, this will function as a quick response mechanism to handle such situations. It will also be the precursor to the launch of the Modern Control Room system on the lines of the Capital city of Bhubaneswar”, said a senior officer.
The Commissionerate police has also firmed up plans to set up a Major Highway Helpline at the Traffic Police Station at Phulnakhara Square on NH 5 between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. The facility would be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and adequate personnel to handle accidents and other problems in the Highways. Apart from a quick response unit replete with ambulances manned by trained people to reach the accident sites on the NH between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar at the quickest possible time and shift the victims to hospitals, the helpline would have cranes, tractors, shredders and cutters at its disposal to clear the accident site. It would also have advanced battery pack lighting systems to work in the night.
The police station would be shifted to a new location at Phulnakhara on account of the highway expansion and construction of a flyover on the existing site. About one acre of land has been allotted for the purpose. Commissioner B K Sharma and DCP Praveen Kumar had visited the new site on Wednesday and construction work would commence soon, sources said.