The Gujarat High Court has expressed dissatisfaction with the state government’s newly established traffic helpline, emphasising that it falls short of addressing broader public concerns.

Justices A Y Kogje and Sameer Dave criticised the government for limiting the helpline to traffic issues, rather than creating a comprehensive service to tackle all problems including illegal parking, poorly maintained roads, and stray cattle.

The court had previously instructed the state government to develop an all-encompassing helpline to address various civic issues. However, the decision to focus solely on traffic-related problems has drawn sharp criticism. 

The High Court has now demanded the creation of a unified, state-level helpline that handles all the listed issues.

The court has directed the government to present a report detailing the number of complaints received and resolved since the helpline’s launch. 

It has also issued a stern warning to ensure the helpline is functional and accessible, stressing that citizens should not encounter problems like busy signals or unresponsive numbers. The emphasis is on making the helpline effective and responsive to public needs.

Additionally, the court criticised the state for the non-functional and ineffective CCTV cameras installed at public places and roads. It insisted that such systems should be operational at all times and criticised the lack of maintenance.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for the case on September 19  and has urged the state to address these issues promptly.

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Gujarat HC orders new helpline, website for traffic, parking issues