Mumbai Traffic Police staff need to get double by 2041 despite population going down

Pointing out issues like lack of staff for effective traffic control and management, followed by difficulty in coordinating with BMC and other organisations, and lack of trained staff, the comprehensive transportation study (CTS) carried out by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has revealed that the staff strength of Mumbai Traffic Police (MTP) will have to be doubled from around from 3,500 in 2017 to 8,711 by 2041 to handle traffic movement in the city.

The study has cited the need for enhancing the strength of Mumbai Traffic Police for effective coordination with other organisations and for effective traffic management. Pointing out other issues with the MTP, the study states that there is a lack of monetary resources for traffic police infrastructure, functional responsibility is unrelated to available resources.

Under issues and concerns of MTP, the study points out that inadequately trained staff has resulted in an inability to deal with the problems they encounter followed by the presence of inadequate computer and communication facilities.

The study reveals that in 2017, the total strength of MTP was 3,518. In addition, the Mumbai Traffic Police employs Traffic Wardens. However, by 2021 the required staff strength will be 4,611, and by 2031 it will go to 5,885 followed by 8,711 in 2041. This projection is interesting considering the population in Mumbai going down by 2041.

As per the census of 2011, the population of Mumbai stands at 1.24 crore, which is projected to fall to 1.06 crore by 2041, the MMRDA anticipates. However, despite this, the MMRDA officials opine that mobility will always remain for one to have enough reason for increasing strength of Mumbai Traffic Police.

An MMRDA official said, "People will move to neighbouring satellite townships like Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar and Kalyan Dombivali but there will always be a need to travel to Mumbai and back considering it being financial and state capital. So, travelling will always be on the card. This means need to have augmented transport network along with an increase in demand of Mumbai Traffic Police's strength."

MMRDA OPINES

The MMRDA anticipates that the population of city is projected to fall to 1 crore from the current 1.24 crore by 2041. However, they opine that mobility will always remain for one to have enough reason for increasing strength of Mumbai Traffic Police.