‘Copless Junction’ in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Motorists were in for a surprise at the RTC crossroads traffic junction on Monday as there were no traffic cops manning the signal, which usually has at least two-three cops on duty.

Instead they saw a banner by the Hyderabad Traffic Police with the words: Copless Junction.

DCP Traffic-I L.S. Chauhan said that it was part of a strategy being adopted by the Traffic department to instill self discipline among motorists about traffic rules. The practice is prevalent in some developed nations.

However, these “copless” junctions won’t actually be devoid of officials. Traffic police personnel will be present with video cameras, but in plain clothes. Traffic violations will be caught on the camera and they will inform a team of traffic police stationed ahead on the road who will stop the violators and issue challans.

Mr Chauhan said, “People are finding ways to escape the traffic police. For example if three people are riding on a two-wheeler, one of them gets down before a junction where a traffic police is present, crosses the road and gets back on the vehicle on the other side. To prevent such escapes and to make people responsible, this measure has been planned.”

The copless traffic junctions will be changed periodically so that people do not get used to them and start breaking the law. Earlier when Panjagutta and Jubilee Hills check posts were made copless junctions, the traffic police had booked 115 interception cases in a day.