Short of manpower to manage the city's increasing traffic, the Mumbai traffic police for the first time have joined hands with a private security service provider to reduce the load on its personnel.

In a joint press conference, Joint Commissioner of Police Satish Mathur said Topsgrup personnel would help improve the traffic management system.

At present, the traffic police department has strength of 2,300 personnel, representing a shortfall of 300 persons.

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Though 267 voluntary wardens are already assisting the city traffic police, the Topsgrup is the first private body to extend help with 20 personnel, Mathur said adding they will join duty from October 1.

They will be stationed at the ten most busy and prominent locations and signals - the domestic airport, international airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mantralaya, Haji Ali, Churchgate, Nariman Point, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Girgaum chowpatty and Marine Drive.

They will assist the traffic cops posted on duty at the particular location but will not have any legal or punitive power.

Heading the private security organisation with strength of 25,000 personnel and 3,500 clients in the country and abroad, Topsgrup Managing Director and CEO Diwan Rahul Nanda said that the association would be of a non-commercial nature whereby wardens, trained by the traffic police and the private body, will carry out a social responsibility.

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