Despite several encroachment drive carried out in the city, encroachers can be seen on city streets. One of the reasons for rise in such activities is because officials and employees of traffic branch are involved in extortion instead of controlling traffic. Due to this reason, hawkers and other people have captured many places in the markets of Itwari, Mahal, Sitabuildi. Sadar and other areas. They are not being successful in controlling road accidents and operating traffic as the employees are busy extorting money from hawkers and people involved in illegal transport.
It may be mentioned here that commissioner of police Amitesh Kumar has given seven days to the officials of traffic branch to improve the system. He also warned that officials will be changed if the situation does not improve. According to sources, sand mafia have captured the most of the other roads of the city.
After taking sand from rural areas, they transport it through the outer roads of the city. This business runs from late in the night to early morning. These vehicles move very fast.
Due to this reason, risk of accident increases. Due to heavy-loaded vehicle and rash driving the patch-work of many roads has come up in a few days.
The traffic branch has specifically allowed movement of some vehicles under the guise of government work. For each permission, a substantial extortion is made. Special personnel have been deployed for this work. They extort lakhs of rupees from sand mafia every month.
Worst condition prevails in the main markets of the city In Itwari and Mahal, where even walking is not possible at many places.
There are long queues of hand carts on both sides of the road. Lakhs of rupees are extorted every month from hawkers and refreshment carts in Gandhibagh, Nanga Putla, City Post Office and Mahal.
In Itwari, many kirana or grain merchants unload goods from trucks to the warehouse in the early morning.
They reach early in the morning to extort money from them. There is a seri ous problem of parking in Itwari and Mahal. People park their vehicles on the side of the road. Jammer action is taken on four wheeler, the fine of which is 250. The jammer is removed by taking Rs 100 to 150. That is why there is no fear of traffic officials among the citizens.
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