KOCHI: Beware, when you break traffic rules or park your vehicle ignoring ‘no-parking’ signs as the newly formed mobile enforcement squads in the state are all set to put a rein on you. To ensure road safety, the state government has sanctioned seventeen such squads across the state under the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD).The new wing will be solely responsible for booking those who breach the traffic norms.“Each district will have a squad, except Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode which will have two. There will be a motor vehicle inspector and two assistant motor vehicle inspectors in each squad to deal with traffic rules violation, round-the-clock,” said Alex Paul, Joint Transport Commissioner, MVD, Thiruvananthapuram.Besides keeping a tab on traffic violations, the new initiative will generate revenue to the state treasury. “Increasing accidents and reckless driving have become a norm these days. If implemented successfully, the venture can not only curb accidents and other related issues but can also generate a revenue to the tune of `330 crore in a year for the government.Alex Paul said they had submitted a proposal seeking 48 squads. “We demanded 48 squads at the outset and also an initial investment of `15 crore from the state government. But as the Finance Department raised objections, we had to be satisfied with 17 squads,” he said.Regarding the necessary staff to man the department, Alex said that staff is being recruited through the Kerala Public Service Commission. Tests and interviews to fill the vacant posts have been conducted and a final list from the PSC is awaited, he said.Regarding the functioning of the squad, T J Thomas, RTO, Ernakulam, said: “The department is planning to have four RTOs for the new wing. They will be posted under four deputy transport commissioners of the state who will have to deal only with road safety enforcement.
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