For traffic volunteers, Himachal Police lowers age from 18 to 16, hikes honorarium from Rs 15 to Rs 50 per hour

A revised draft of the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) has been prepared under the supervision of DGP Ashok Tewari by a team of senior traffic officers. The police have shared details of the proposed changes on social media along with a helpline number for interested citizens to enroll.

A senior police officer said, “The minimum age for volunteers has been set at 16 years. Selected individuals must be physically fit, mentally sound, residents of the concerned police station area, and free from any criminal record. Volunteers will serve for a maximum of four hours daily—two in the morning and two in the evening—and may also be deployed during festivals and major gatherings. They will receive an honorarium of up to Rs 40 per hour, with a monthly cap of Rs 4,000. Earlier, the honorarium was Rs 15 per hour. However, the payout will depend on budget availability and the public’s response.”

According to the draft SoP, traffic volunteers will assist police in managing traffic during peak hours, fairs, and festivals. They will also play an important role in ensuring the safety of schoolchildren, preventing road accidents, and spreading awareness about traffic rules. The draft specifies that volunteers cannot be engaged for more than four hours a day. Scouts and NCC cadets will be given preference under the scheme. It also states that any volunteer found indulging in indiscipline or illegal activity will be removed immediately.

Meanwhile, as the monsoon approaches towards its end, the tourist season is about to begin in the state. In 2024, the state received 2.60 crore tourists including 1.80 crore domestic tourists and around 83,000 foreigners. Hill station Dharamshala in Kangra district had attracted maximum foreign national tourists.