Mumbai police commissioner Dr Satyapal Singh on Saturday said that the traffic police needs an additional manpower of 1,600 persons.
“We have written to the state government to increase the traffic police’s manpower by 1,600. The proposal was sent a few days ago,” Mr Singh said.
The police commissioner was replying to an appeal by a citizen, requesting for traffic officials at Phalke Road and Lalbaug Bridge. He was speaking at the Grievance Redressal Day (GRD), which had been organised at the Bhoiwada police station.
Mr Singh was, however, disappointed to learn that the 50-odd local residents, who had gathered at the station did not have any major grievances and had only come to “thank officials for their good work”. “This looks like a meeting and not a grievance day,” he said, while appealing citizens to put forth genuine complaints.
After much prodding, the wife of a policeman informed Mr Singh about the public works department ignoring infrastructure issues at the Bhoiwada police quarters. Mr Singh said that he would ask the joint commissioner administration to look into the issues. A few requested to increase the patrolling near schools, temples and market places in the morning at around 7 am, when chain snatching incidents are on the rise. Mr Singh ordered senior police inspector Vikram Patil, to increase the patrolling in these areas and to have check points. “I don’t want any paperbazzi (paperwork), get me detections,” Mr Singh told Mr Patil.
Another person complained about youngsters making out at the ground next to RM Bhatt School. At this juncture, Mr Singh took a jibe at the media, saying, “If we take action, they will say we are moral policing.” He, however, asked Mr Patil to take necessary action.