In a significant move to tackle persistent traffic gridlock, the Lucknow police, in collaboration with several civic and administrative bodies, has initiated a structured campaign. The aim is to liberate 20 of the city's most notorious traffic bottlenecks from illegal encroachments.
What Triggered the Major Drive?
The decision for this extensive enforcement action was prompted by the severe traffic breakdown witnessed on January 1. On that day, a massive influx of over five lakh devotees visiting four prominent temples—Hanuman Setu, Khatushyam temple, Mankameshwar temple, and Hanumant Dham—led to nearly one lakh vehicle movements in a constrained urban area. This event underscored the urgent need for systematic intervention.
Multi-Agency Effort and Phase-One Targets
The initiative is a joint undertaking involving the Lucknow Police, traffic police, Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), Public Works Department (PWD), and the district administration.
The first phase of the drive will concentrate on critical choke points that have been identified as high-density traffic zones. These locations suffer extensively from roadside encroachments, illegal kiosks, and unauthorized vendor stalls. The initial list includes:
- Matiari crossing in Chinhat
- Bhoothnath crossing
- Kaiserbagh crossing
- Lalbagh crossing and its surrounding areas
- Sitapur Road
- Engineering College crossing
- Hussainabad
- Kanpur Road
Aiming for Sustainable Solutions
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Kamlesh Dixit, emphasized that the efforts are not merely about clearance but also about implementing long-term remedies. He revealed that plans are being made, in coordination with civic bodies, for the rehabilitation of displaced street vendors and kiosk operators. This step is crucial to prevent cleared spaces from being re-encroached upon later.
Dixit pointed to last year's drive in the Bhoothnath area, where vendors returned post-operation, as a lesson. It highlighted the necessity for a more sustainable and permanent plan this time around.
Enforcement Action Begins in Old Lucknow
The city police formally commenced the latest drive on Saturday, starting with operations in Old Lucknow. Acting on strict directives from the police commissioner regarding traffic management, teams conducted an intensive cleanup in the Hussainabad area. They removed illegal shops, unauthorized parking, and transport stands that were major contributors to frequent traffic snarls. The area was cleared to restore smoother vehicular flow.
Officials stated that similar enforcement actions will be rolled out across all identified locations in the coming days. Regular monitoring will also be put in place to deter fresh encroachments and maintain the gains of the drive.
