By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Social activist Anoop Nuatiyal on Sunday cautioned the Uttarakhand government against the threat of a “traffic tsunami” in view of the frequent gridlocks in the hill state and called for “Graded Response Action Plan” or GRAP based traffic management system to deal with the problem.
In his proposal sent to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Nautiyal said traffic congestion in Uttarakhand is no longer limited to the tourism or religious pilgrimage seasons, heavy traffic pressure is persisting across various parts of the state almost every day.
Nautiyal said the situation is likely to worsen further once the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway is thrown open for traffic. “A substantial and uncontrolled rise in vehicle numbers is inevitable,” he said. “If timely and well-planned measures are not taken, the state may face a kind of traffic tsunami which could severely impact daily life, the environment, and the functioning of governance, administration, and the police system,” he claimed.
Nautiyal pointed out that the absence of a robust traffic management framework is causing hardship to citizens as well as tourists. To address this challenge, he suggested that, on the lines of the “Graded Response Action Plan” implemented in Delhi for air pollution control, Uttarakhand should adopt a phased, pre-defined, and rule-based traffic management mechanism.
According to the proposal, the Uttarakhand Traffic “Graded Response Action Plan” can be implemented in four stages. In situations of mild congestion, measures such as traffic advisories, action against illegal parking, and the use of alternative routes can be enforced. During heavy congestion, parking restrictions and controlled vehicle entry may be introduced. In cases of severe congestion, non-essential heavy vehicles can be restricted and work-from-home arrangements may be encouraged. In emergency situations, temporary restrictions on tourism movement on certain routes and the creation of dedicated corridors for ambulances and disaster response services can be ensured.
Nautiyal called for setting up of an independent state-level body titled the “Uttarakhand Commission for Traffic Management,” which would continuously monitor traffic data, activate different stages of the “Graded Response Action Plan” as required, and ensure coordination among various departments.
He stated that if implemented, Uttarakhand could possibly become the first state in the country to establish a dedicated state-level commission for traffic management, setting an example for other hill states. He expressed hope that the Chief Minister would adopt a forward-looking and innovative approach to address emerging traffic hotspots and proactively respond to the fear of “traffic tsunami” in Uttarakhand.