Jaipur: A scheme launched to improve traffic management in the city has run into controversy, with traffic marshals alleging non-payment of wages and abrupt removal from duty. A large number of marshals staged a protest Monday, gathering at Ramniwas Bagh before marching to the Civil Lines residence of former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas to raise their concerns.Marshal Raja Gurjar claimed that salaries from Feb to April have not been paid. He alleged that after a new DCP took charge, the official WhatsApp group was shut and marshals were informally told not to report for duty.Another marshal, Hansraj Pipriwal said appointments made under former DCP Sumit Mehrada are now being changed, with removals taking place without written orders.Khachariyawas criticised the move, saying, “Traffic conditions in the city are already poor, with people stuck in jams for hours. Removing traffic marshals will only worsen the situation, instead, their numbers should be increased as per requirement.”Under the scheme, 1,009 posts were approved for Jaipur out of 1,419 sanctioned across the state. Marshals began duty on Jan 20 alongside police personnel and were to receive a monthly honorarium of Rs6,000. The initiative, modelled on systems in Delhi and Mumbai, aimed to address manpower shortages in traffic management.Repeated attempts to contact traffic DCP Yogesh Goyal for comment went unanswered.
