Ulhasnagar: Despite spending Rs 2.70 lakh every month on 45 traffic wardens, traffic congestion continues to trouble major junctions across Ulhasnagar. Questions over the effectiveness of the system have intensified after a pregnant woman, reportedly caught in a traffic jam while being taken to hospital, was forced to deliver her baby inside an auto-rickshaw.

The Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) has deployed 45 traffic wardens to regulate vehicle movement and ease congestion; each warden receives a monthly stipend that collectively costs the civic body Rs 2.70 lakh.

However, social worker Adv. Prashant Chandanshiv has alleged, “The wardens are often not visible at several important traffic points.” In a complaint submitted to the municipal administration, he claimed that wardens assigned to locations such as the Municipal Headquarters, Shahad Railway Station, Shriram Chowk, Venus Chowk, Netaji Chowk, Forward Line and Ulhasnagar Railway Station are frequently absent when their services are most needed.”

The recent incident involving the pregnant woman has brought the issue into sharp focus. According to the complaint, severe traffic congestion prevented her from reaching the hospital in time, resulting in the baby being delivered inside an auto-rickshaw.

Chandanshiv has questioned the expenditure on traffic wardens and demanded accountability from the civic administration. He has urged officials to review the contractor's performance and, if necessary, terminate the contract and impose penalties if the traffic management system is found ineffective.

The incident has renewed concerns over traffic management and the utilisation of public funds in Ulhasnagar.

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ULHASNAGAR TRAFFIC │

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│ 45 Traffic wardens deployed

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│ Rs 2.70 lakh spent monthly on wardens.

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│ Traffic jams persist despite the deployment and spending.

│ ???? Key incident: A pregnant woman reportedly got caught in a traffic jam and was forced to deliver her baby inside an auto-rickshaw after failing to reach the hospital in time. │

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│ Questions raised: Social worker Adv. Prashant Chandanshiv has sought accountability over the effectiveness of the traffic warden system.