Kolkata: The Kolkata Traffic Police on Tuesday issued an official appeal asking all residents of Kolkata to use its dedicated traffic helpline, 1073, for all traffic-related complaints and road emergencies. Citizens can even direct their parking related queries here. The number, toll-free, will be operational 24×7, said cops.Multiple issues like severe traffic jams, parking-related disputes, malfunctioning traffic signals, illegal parking, and unexpected road closures can all be reported to the headquarters directly. Members of the public can also report road accidents or inform authorities about broken-down vehicles that disrupt vehicular movement.This will help cops in two ways. “One, the headquarters will be alerted immediately. Even if a car breaks down instead of waiting for someone to inform us, alternative decision can be taken. Two, we will also know the exact spot where the breakdown occurred,” said a cop.Cops stated that it had tried to use the 1073 number earlier to report breakdowns on the flyovers. “Initially, it was a hit on Maa flyover. However, the move fizzled out over time as breakdowns too got reported on 100. By reintroducing 1073, we are trying to ease pressure on 100,” said an officer.Explaining the operational mechanism, officers stated that as soon as a complaint is registered at the traffic control centre, the matter will be relayed to the concerned traffic guard or responsible officer on duty. Immediate steps will then be taken by ground personnel to resolve the issue quickly.
