Ahmedabad: As Ahmedabad’s air quality declines, traffic police personnel find themselves at the frontlines, exposed to constant vehicle emissions and smog. Despite the protection of masks, the constant exposure to thick fumes and dust has led to severe health issues — from breathing difficulties to throat infections and from burning eyes to chronic coughs — among many police personnel.
Officers say pollution in high-traffic zones like Vastrapur, Vadaj and Kalupur is making their job increasingly difficult.
Shailesh Chavda, a traffic constable with B Division Traffic Police, described the daily ordeal. “Standing at busy junctions for hours, inhaling toxic fumes, is affecting our health. Many of us suffer from breathing difficulties, eye irritation and constant fatigue.” He pointed out that slow-moving traffic and traffic jams at Vadaj and Akhbarnagar circles during peak hours only worsens their struggle.
In A Division, traffic constable Mahesh Desai echoed similar concerns. “We try to wear masks, but the pollution is so severe that it barely helps. Congestion in areas like Vastrapur and surrounding roads makes the problem worse,” he said.
For Prakash Parmar, a TRB jawan stationed near Kalupur Railway Station, the pollution is almost unbearable due to the presence of one of the city’s biggest vegetable and grocery markets in the area. “The emissions from auto-rickshaws and buses, combined with the dust from one of the city’s biggest markets, cause constant coughing and throat infections. I have to wash my face and eyes frequently to avoid irritation from the coal-like dust and eye-burning fumes,” he said.
Ahmedabad’s traffic police have urged authorities to implement stricter pollution control measures, including better emission checks and promoting eco-friendly transport. Until then, officers like Chavda, Desai, and Parmar continue to battle both traffic and toxic air, risking their health to keep the city moving.