IGP Traffic chairs meeting to assess preparedness ahead of adverse weather
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Mohd. Suleman Choudhary, Inspector General of Police, Traffic, J&K, on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting with senior officers of Traffic Police J&K to assess preparedness and evaluate contingency measures in view of an adverse weather advisory forecasting heavy rainfall and snowfall across both hilly and plain areas of the Union Territory in the coming days.
The meeting was attended by senior officers, including Sheikh Junaid Mehmood, IPS, DIG Traffic Range Kashmir; Ajaz Ahmed Bhat, , SSP Traffic City Srinagar; Mohd. Rashid Bhat, Staff Officer to IGP Traffic J&K; Ravinder Paul Singh, SSP Traffic Rural Kashmir; Raja Adil Hamid, SSP Traffic NHW Ramban; Farooq Qaiser, JKPS, SSP Traffic Rural Jammu; and Arvinder Singh Kotwal, Addl. SP Traffic City Jammu.
During the meeting, the IGP Traffic J&K issued clear directions to ensure readiness to manage any eventuality arising due to heavy snowfall. Officers were instructed to focus on vulnerable stretches such as Qazigund and Banihal, with SSP Traffic Rural Kashmir and SSP Traffic NHW Ramban tasked to earmark safe locations for vehicle parking in case of traffic suspension. SSP Traffic City Srinagar and SSP Traffic City Jammu were directed to identify suitable holding areas within city limits and regulate vehicular movement towards snow-affected zones.
Choudhary emphasized that an adequate number of cranes, recovery vehicles, and breakdown assistance teams must be deployed along National Highways and other critical stretches for immediate clearance of stranded or disabled vehicles. Officers were further instructed to ensure sufficient manpower, snow-clearance coordination, reflective barricades, signage, and traffic management equipment on the ground.
He also stressed the importance of enhanced visible traffic presence, timely dissemination of traffic advisories via print, electronic, and social media platforms, and close coordination with district administrations, Police, NHAI, BRO, and other relevant departments. Traffic Control Units were directed to remain operational 24×7 for real-time monitoring and swift response.
The meeting concluded with directions to ensure seamless inter-agency coordination, proactive traffic regulation, and prioritization of public safety during the anticipated adverse weather conditions.
