Message from Sri Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti, IPS, DG & IGP, Traffic, West Bengal

Sri Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti, IPS, DG & IGP, Traffic, West Bengal

The problem of traffic management has emerged as one of the most important challenges before the Police all over the country. The ever growing population with phenomenal growth in the number of vehicles coupled with poor road infrastructure is making the job of traffic management all the more difficult. As per the available figures one road accident takes place in the country every minute, and one road accident death every four minute. The analysis of road accidents in terms of causative factors reveals that drivers’ fault is the single most important factor for the road traffic accidents. Drivers’ fault accounted for 78% of total accidents, 74.6% of the total persons killed and 79.8% of the total number of persons injured in road traffic accidents in the year 2010.

2. The Police play an important role in respect of traffic regulation and enforcement of traffic laws, traffic safety awareness and quick response and relief to the traffic accident victims. Therefore, there is an imperative need for improvement of traffic police infrastructure in terms of manpower, equipment, including communication, vehicles, ambulances etc. so that precious lives could be saved and road journeys could be made smooth and free from congestion.

3. The Traffic Branch of West Bengal Police is aware of its responsibilities of ensuring the above by way of constantly monitoring the traffic situation with the Commissionerates and the Districts of West Bengal. Although this Branch is not equipped with infrastructure to directly enforce the traffic laws, we supervise the traffic management in the Commissionerates and the Districts of West Bengal on a 24X7 basis. We also take over investigation of important road traffic accidents by our own officers. Traffic safety awareness is also a priority area of work of the Traffic Branch and we take up this work in consultation with the Transport Department, Govt. of West Bengal from time to time. Training, both in the areas of traffic enforcement and investigation of road traffic accident cases is also an important charter of duty for us.

4. The need to have a separate website for the Traffic Branch of West Bengal Police was being felt for quite some time. We have tried to incorporate all the basic provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Bengal Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 in this Website. The citizens are requested to kindly make themselves conversant with these provisions of law. We have also incorporated all the important telephone numbers which may be required for assistance in respect of any traffic related matter. A traffic complaint form has also been uploaded for convenience of the citizens. It may, however, be borne in mind that the action on the complaints lodged on this website will be taken by the concerned officers of the Commissionerates and the Districts of West Bengal. Complaints relating to Kolkata Police Commissionerates will continue to be processed by the Kolkata Traffic Police Officers, and we will not pursue any such complaint from our end.

5. We hope you, the citizens whether driving vehicles or using the roads as pedestrians will find the site useful. We will appreciate your suggestions and advices to make the site more useful to you. Your comments on traffic development in the Districts and the Commissionerates will be highly appreciated.

Wish you Happy and Safe Driving.