Leather belts, anklets and headgear strapped to the chin — some of the basics of a uniform for a police constable on traffic duty are being done away with this summer so the personnel out on the roads can remain light in this searing heat.
A recent advisory from the police headquarters in Lalbazar to all traffic guards across the city has said certain relaxations in the police uniform, which traffic constables don, would be allowed.
The advisory has also said their duty hours could be scaled down to six, from eight, depending on the staff strength and arrangements should be made to keep all personnel adequately hydrated.
Packets of ORS have been sent to the personnel and sunglasses and umbrellas have been distributed in abundance.
Senior officers said almost all traffic guards are short of personnel and the officers in charge want to ensure no one reports “sick” during this time, when a series of political rallies and IPL matches are lined up amid a soaring Celsius.
“At certain key intersections and spots where there is no shade, we are trying to rotate the constables on duty so that the exposure to heat is partly reduced,” said an officer in a traffic guard in the city’s central area.
“If that is not possible because of lack of enough personnel, traffic constables have been told to remain seated inside traffic signal console boxes in the afternoons.”
“The power connections to the console boxes have been repaired so fans can run. Earthen pitchers have been kept to store water,” said an officer in a traffic guard in the city’s south.
“Senior officers and traffic sergeants have been asked not to drink chilled water immediately after returning from their rounds.”