A newly established Deputy Superintendent Traffic Police Office, Administration of UT Ladakh was inaugurated by S.S Khandare, IGP Ladakh on December 21 at Agling.

S.S Khandare said that to keep any city beautiful, a proper system specially traffic regulations and adequate parking spaces is must.

He instructed the DSP Traffic to submit a specific proposal for road improvement, requirement, problems and challenges regarding traffic regulation and its enforcement in Leh town along with possible solutions. Also, he asked him to identify spaces for parking in and around the town to decongest the roads and to ensure NOC from Traffic Police mandatory for any kind of commercial establishment. 

S.S Khandare informed that Challan power will soon be delegated to the traffic police and all their requirements will be fulfilled in the next one year. The need for manpower will be provided by March so to start with the drill well on time.   

He urged the DSP Traffic to strictly implement traffic regulations for smooth traffic movement and instructed to form an enforcement squad to ensure effective traffic management in Leh town and to regulate no parking areas strictly.

ARTO, Leh was suggested to set up a combined traffic information centre along with resting facility and a weight bridge at Zojila-Leh and Manali-Leh highway considering the accidents caused by overload and rash/negligence driving. He also asked the Police Department and ARTO to identify parking space at the place of traffic halt on national highways and to provide a shed with other necessary facilities for stranded passengers and drivers.

Rigzin Sangdup, DSP Traffic gave a detail powerpoint presentation highlighting the road stretch of National Highways and also the present traffic scenario in Leh town. He projected the bottlenecks and pressure points in traffic regulation in Leh town and major challenges including an increase in vehicular density, lack of parking, lack of footpath, shortage of recovery crane and traffic congestion with narrow roads. He raised the need for signboards, zebra crossing, concert dividers, redesigning of the footpath, traffic information board, rotary and traffic booths etc.