Jalandhar has been dealing with the problem of traffic management for a long period of time. The traffic congestion gets worse with each passing day. Every day, Jalandhar traffic police reports several cases of traffic violation in the city. The main reason behind traffic congestion is non-functional traffic lights, no deployment of traffic authorities near chowks, haphazard parking, etc.
To get rid of all problems regarding traffic mismanagement, concerned authorities announced setting up of ICCC- Integrated Command and Control Centre. The main objective of setting up of ICCC was to streamline city’s traffic and enhance surveillance. Jalandhar’s then DC Vishesh Sarangal stated that ‘Traffic Management Project’ would be ready for city by December 15, 2023. As per reports, 1218 CCTV cameras were to be set up in 188 locations of the city which will get connected to ICCC by 2023. These cameras included bullet cameras, automated number plate reading cameras, and 360-degree view cameras. Adding to this, the surveillance would be further integrated with E-challans which will help police maintain law and order.
From December, four months have passed by and still there remain CCTVs to be installed, E-challans to be started, etc. True Scoop conducted an interview with Jalandhar ADCP, IPS Aditya. During the conversation, he stated that till now Jalandhar has approximately 500 cameras working whereas the number stated was 1218. He further added that these cameras are operational and assigned officers keep a proper check on the violators, etc. The ADCP revealed that till now, the issue of E-challans is in progress and tie up with Punjab Trasport Department is still pending.
The ICCC project at one point of time was set to go live on January 26th, 2024. The project has faced various setbacks and the launch date still remains unconfirmed.
The questions that arise here is what is causing the delay in the ICCC Project and when will it go live. 1218 camera were to be set up by December but till April end only 500 cameras have been put up. The issue of E-challans still stands pending. Adding to this, ₹ 32 crores of payment in the ICCC Project is still pending which is could be another factor in delay of the same.
To get answers to these questions True Scoop interviewed Municipal Corporation Commissioner Jalandhar, IAS Gautam Jain.
IAS Gautam Jain stated that out of 188 locations, cameras have been installed in 179 locations. The remaining locations come under Army and Railways which is why the permission to put up cameras in these areas is getting delayed. While answering about e-challans, Gautam Jain said that the authorities are hopeful to start the service by end of May 2024 but no surety of the same can be given. MC Commissioner Gautam Jain was not aware of the pending payment of ₹ 32 crores with ICCC.
The project whose foundation stone was kept in 2018, has missed many scheduled deadlines given by the authority and still remains incomplete.