Day before Diwali, a slow crawl for Delhi, a long wait for commuters

The Delhi Police’s traffic helpline received nearly 700 calls throughout the day, as hapless commuters stuck in traffic jams sought help to find a way out, said a traffic official.

WATCH VIDEO: Delhi Police Chopper Footage Of Traffic

The Delhi Police had even hired a chopper to get a bird’s eye view of the traffic situation in the city. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Shweta Chauhan, along with two traffic inspectors, kept an eye on  the traffic movement from the chopper.

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“The chopper took off at about 3.30 pm and from it, the police officials kept a watch on several areas including Safdarjung Airport, Dhaula Kuan, Ring Road, BRT Corridor, Rajouri Garden, Rohini, ISBT, ITO, Vikas Marg and Rajghat till 4.30 pm,”  said a senior police officer.

A large number of traffic personnel were also deployed on the streets, while senior police officials issued instructions to control rooms set up at police headquarters in every zone.

Most areas of the capital were covered by the chopper, said Special Commissioner of Police (traffic) Mukesh Chander.

“The officer in the chopper kept instructing control rooms, from where the messages were forwarded to field officers,” he added.

Explaining the process of coordination, the officer said that when DCP Chauhan saw a heavy traffic jam in ISBT due to a state transport bus, she immediately informed the control room.

The control room then informed some traffic policemen , who rushed to the area to clear up the traffic snarl.

This is not the first time traffic police has used a chopper to monitor traffic movement in the capital. On the occasion of Dussehra and Durga idol immersion on October 23, Delhi Police had used a chopper to regulate traffic and prevent traffic jams.