In a significant move to tackle the chronic traffic congestion during school hours, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to seriously consider a comprehensive plan to install CCTV cameras around prominent schools across the city. The initiative aims to enable real-time monitoring and better regulation of the chaos typically seen during the opening and closing hours of educational institutions.
The directions were issued by a division bench comprising Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Brijraj Singh during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2020 by residents of the Gomti riverbank. The litigation highlights the systemic traffic hurdles faced by commuters and residents due to the high volume of vehicles centered around school zones.
The court has been monitoring the situation closely, having previously issued multiple directions to mitigate the gridlock caused by school-related traffic. In compliance with these earlier orders, the state government submitted a performance report regarding traffic marshals deployed at 18 identified schools.
The findings presented to the bench were mixed. While the report indicated that marshals were effective at some institutions, their performance at several other schools was deemed “unsatisfactory.” This inconsistent manual management has prompted the court to look toward technological solutions.
During the proceedings, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Raveena Tyagi informed the court that the city’s major intersections and arterial roads are already being monitored via the Smart City Control Room. She suggested that extending a similar CCTV surveillance network to the perimeters of schools could significantly enhance the efficiency of traffic regulation.
Recognizing the potential of this digital oversight, the High Court directed the state’s Additional Advocate General to facilitate detailed discussions. These consultations are expected to involve all concerned government departments and school managements to draft a viable implementation proposal.
The court has sought a status update on these discussions and the proposed plan during the next hearing, which is scheduled for April 28.
