Mangaluru : The new Bantwal Traffic Police Station, which will be looking into traffic management and accidents in areas coming under Bantwal Town and Rural police stations, started functioning from Friday.

This will be the second traffic police station to be set up in the district.

The Bantwal Traffic Police Station will be functioning from rented premises in a commercial complex in Melkar near Kalladka. Personnel from different police stations in the district have been deputed to the new station.

District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai inaugurated the new station. Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Amrith Paul also attended the event.

The State government granted approval to start Bantwal Traffic Police Station and Dharmasthala Police Station in 2014. Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S.D. said they were looking for a plot to build the police station at Dharmasthala.

“We are hopeful of finalising a place in the next 30 days,” he said. They would also start in another 15 days an outpost in Siddakatte on the Bantwal-Moodbdiri Road, he said.

Mr. Sharanappa said the new traffic police station would be involved mostly in regulation of vehicle movement on the National Highway.

The traffic police station will help in scientific planning of vehicle movement. They could identify accident zones and take measures for reduction of accidents, he said. They have sought 40 personnel for the new traffic police station, he added.