With limited police personnel on duty to clear traffic jams, the commuters are left high and dry as they wait endlessly for the traffic jams to clear in various areas of Patiala.

On the New Year eve, the traffic in the city came to a standstill at various places as the policemen failed to manage the traffic movement. The situation was better at busy market places where adequate police force was deputed, but traffic at Leela Bhawan, Shera Wala Gate Mall Road and Adalat Bazaar was halted due to lack of a proper traffic plan.

According to commuters, there were no traffic wing personnel to check parking on roads and the problem worsened as roadside vendors selling sweets and other items created bottlenecks at different places in the city.

“What can I do with a stick in my hand? I cannot even book violators as almost everyone is a relative of some politician or an officer,” said a traffic policeman who was posted near Fountain Chowk. He further added, “We need to have a special wing that can book every offender.”