‘Don’t Blame Police Dept for All Traffic Issues’- Police Commissioner Chandra Sekhar
“Don’t blame the police department for All Traffic Issues. Bad roads also lead to traffic problems, so why blame the cops for that? Bad urban planning and infrastructure also lead to traffic issues- the police department didn’t plan this, so why police have to take the blame. The only can do so much, but to curb traffic offences and problems, the citizens also need to join hands with the police to make this City a safe city without any traffic safety hazard” said Police Commissioner Chandra Sekhar IPS, during an interactive meeting on the topic “Traffic Rules, Law and Order”.
Mangaluru: Squeezing your way through mammoth traffic congestion and still making it to work on time every morning or heading back home in the evening late because of heavy rush hour and traffic jam is no small feat — a skill that Mangalureans are fast picking up, not by choice but by compulsion. As the number of cars and two-wheelers on the road is increasing, commuting from one part of the city to another at any point of the day, evening or night has become a matter of concern for everyone. While the urban scape continues to expand with new road networks being built and neighborhoods being created, town planners, including Mangaluru City Corporation and other government authorities have still not been able to put a consolidated method in place to reduce traffic gridlocks, which leads to more road fatalities and pollution. Keeping all that in mind, Board members and members of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) had organized a interaction with Police Commissioner M Chandra Sekhar IPS on the important and very much citizen concerned topic namely ” Traffic Rules, Law and Order”, which was held on Tuesday, 25 October 2016 at KCCI Hall at 5pm.
Jeevan Saldanha- President of KCCI welcomed the gathering, and expressing his gratitude to Police Commissioner Chandra Sekhar he said, “We want to thank and appreciate your efforts in implementing the mobile app, for tracking of traffic violations, through public involvement. This would certainly help the growing city like Mangaluru. KCCI wishes you a very Successful and Fruitful tenure of office as an esteemed Police Commissioner of our region, Mangaluru. KCCI is committed to work with you to connect the bridge between Police Department and the general public/trade and industry in this region. We will be submitting you a memorandum with the various traffic issues for your kind consideration and earnestly request you to take them up at appropriate levels using your good offices, under the topic ‘Traffic Rules and Law & Order’, and to ensure these aspirations of the trade, Commerce, Industry and the General People of this region, are fulfilled at your hands “.
Addressing the audience Police Commissioner Chandra Sekhar said, “Traffic is a topic that affects every citizen in the society. When the traffic is good, citizens compliment the police. When traffic is bad, everything is bad. But throughout my police career, I thought traffic management is actually not core policing. As a Police commissioner here in Manaluru my understanding on policing has changed, due to the fact having quite a few interactive sessions with the citizens. We should know that traffic issues due to bad roads should not be blamed on police. Similarly police are not responsible for traffic problems due to poor urban planning and infrastructure. It was not planned by the police department, we came into the picture much after everything was planned and built-so why blame the police for traffic issues”.
“I agree that traffic management is certainly my responsibility, but I am not responsible for the 100% traffic control. We need better urban planning, which has been lacking here. Look, for example, there is a flyover near Suratkal, where traffic coming from Udupi/Suratkal can use this double lane stretch, but on the other hand traffic going from Mangaluru towards Suratkal/Udupi have to use a narrow stretch of road right adjacent to the flyover- this is poor urban planning. Also there are quite a few cement godowns in the Bunder area which create traffic congestion to other vehicles- these godowns should be shifted to a much spacious and open area. Regarding these issues my department has been discussing with the appropriate departments like NH, MCC, PWD, MUDA, and other concerned administrations”, added Chandra Sekhar.
He further said, “I also request organizations like KCCI and others to interact with these departments for the betterment of the community. Having plethora of flyovers will not serve for a good traffic management. After introducing phone-in system, we have got very good response from the citizens with complaints, mostly on the menace created by private bus operators. Police are finding a tough time to change the attitude of these rude drivers. So in this case, we also need the help of organizations to interfere and motivate these drivers through education and awareness programmes. Lot of talking needs to be done in this respect from the social organization and community side”
On the lighter side of vein, the Commissioner said, “Whenever I drive alone I follow the lanes and very seldom change lanes. But when my wife is seated next to me she always complaints saying that, ‘we could be reaching our destination tomorrow instead of tonight, the way you drive. Hurry up and change lanes?’. Yes, some people are in a hurry to reach their destination, either taking short cuts or disobeying traffic signs. We should know that enforcement of rules and regulations can change the sitaution only for a while, but right education and training will last for a long time” .
Speaking about Law and Order, Chandra Sekhar said, “We are still in the process of a developing nation. We should have fear for the law (which is very much lacking), and not fear of the police. We should stress more on obeying and following the laws, and also have the fear of the law. We have tried to interact both the Mangaluru City Police and Citizens to tackle traffic issues. We have come hard on drug dealers, even booked a ganja dealer under Goonda act and have locked him up in Bellary jail, for the first time in the history of Mangaluru. We have introduced mobile app, twitter, facebook so citizens can forward us their complaints on traffic or other issues. Our department has been setting things right wherever we can. Prosperity and Peace should go hand in hand. If you want prosperity, we need peace. Also raising voice against injustice is important, and for that we need the support of the citizens, KCCI and other like minded organizations.
The audience was also given a chance to put forth their complaints on the various traffic issues faced by them in their day to day life in this Education Hub which is on the verge of becoming a “Smart City”, but with no “Smart People” to handle it. From the audience, Subayya Shetty, Past President of KCCI said, “The KPT junction has become a Ganesh Transport Junction”, where a bunch of buses belonging to Ganesh Transport/Motors are parked daily near the junction, where they are washed, oil-change done, mechanical work etc- and all this is creating a hassle and inconvenience to the motorists getting on the highway. Also instead of new cars being registered at the RTO, the same could be done at the car show-room, this will reduce congestion near RTO area”.
Manohar Baliga said, “Police should crack down on vehicles that park in front of the residences, which cause inconvenience for the home owners. Also police should keep the complainant name secret, because I had an experience where the party found out that I had complained and there was an argument. Traffic violation fees should be increased, paying Rs 100 for a traffic violation is peanuts”. ” Mangaluru has become the ‘City of Barricades’? Wherever you go in the city, you are haunted by these barricades, which don’t serve any good purpose, rather than make things worse”, complained Praveen Chandra Shetty.
Past President of Rotary Club of Hillside, Rtn Anil Rao said, “Bus Stand and auto-rickshaw stand should not be close to each other- This gets traffic-choked up. Also it is advisable that police constables should also be given the power of issuing fine tickets, and not wait for the police inspector to show up, where in many cases, motorists slowly slip away”. Yatish Baikampady said, “The concrete dividers are simply a hassle for motorists, and don’t serve any purpose. In case of emergency/accidents, you can’t move these concrete barriers where you can deviate the vehicles in order to transport people to hospital etc. “
“We need to bring awareness among the people by launching radio ads or through barricades about traffic safety. Slogans like ‘Be Patient while Driving’; ‘Drive carefully, Save Lives’; ‘Speed Thrills, But Kills’; Obey the Laws, Don’t Break the Laws’; as such could serve the purpose very much in lowering traffic accidents and fatalities.” Authorities should impound junk or old vehicles parked on the road side for months/years. Should not allow institutions buses or lorries to park on busy roads. Another funny thing is that, we build new wide roads, then we see vehicles parked and taking part of the road-this need to be stopped. Also stern actions should be taken on narcotics dealers”, complained H R Alva.
Capt Pais said, “Almost all the traffic lights in the City are not working- why even bothered to install them after spending so much money, and not usable now. Police should also check on the bus conductors who are always in a hurry to move the bus even before the passengers get into the bus or alight”. “Another safety hazard issue is that the KSRTC buses coming out of the main bus-stand near Bejai are spilling lots of diesel on the junction near Big Bazaar when they make a steep turn. Many two-wheelers have skid and injured at these spots. We need to instruct the KSRTC bus drivers not to fill diesel up to the top-some diesel tanks don’t even have a cap” said K Manoj”. Reckless and arrogant bus drivers and other motorists need to be punished to the maximum, by suspending their drivers licence immediately and not wait for days and months” suggested Eulalia D’souza, member of KCCI.
Honorary Secretaries of KCCI- PB Abdul Hameed and Praveen Kumar Kalbhavi; Vathika Pai- Vice President; and M Ganesh Bhat Treasurer were also present on the dais. Later a memorandum was submitted to the police commissioner on various issues pertaining to Traffic and others. Vathika Pai introduced the Chief Guest, while Praveen Kumar Kalbhavi delivered the vote of thanks.
In conclusion, Keeping all that in mind, as a concerned denizen of this Educational Hub and a Coastal City, suggest that we as citizens should also come up with few potential solutions which can bring about a difference in the current scenario. We need to take things forward and approach the state government and other departments concerned with our methods. As residents of the city, we are also equally responsible for finding solutions to an issue that is bothering all of us on a daily basis. There is a lack of space to build wide roads or infrastructural facilities in Mangaluru, compared with places like the US and other Europe countries. Here, the approach and implementation of any plan will have to be according to the requirements of the area in question. Whatever the hurdles or downfalls, we as citizens should also join hands with the police department, MCC, MUDA, PWD and other administration for the betterment and safe Mangaluru ‘Smart’ City!
Following are the various issues pertaining to Mangaluru City, which were included in the Memorandum submitted to Police Commissioner M Chandra Sekhar IPS during the Interactive Meeting:
Regarding Traffic issues in Mangaluru City:
Following are some of the suggestions from our members regarding traffic, in order to ease the movement of traffic, for your consideration.
o Identify 4-5 high-density traffic congestion places and ensure continuous manning of such places with strict adherence of traffic rules.
o A thorough review and strict action against designated parking spaces being used for commercial purposes, and also any encroachment of space on main road, would ease the traffic movement inside the city.
o All long distance/inter-city buses including private and state-run should be made to avoid coming inside the city, especially during the peak hours.
o Road humps / dividers / circles which are inside the city, to be reviewed and redesigned scientifically.
o Processions / Protest Marches which are a regular feature at present to be banned on main city roads as this causes traffic snarls and blockages.
o Idle parking of long distance buses inside the city, and also loading/unloading of goods / passengers inside the Central Business Areas, to be disallowed.
o Zero tolerance for one-way violations especially by two wheelers causing accidents and loss of life, with an imposition of heavy penalty such as fines, warnings, and seizures.
o Registration inspection for new vehicles is done at peak hours presently at RTO Office near A B Shetty Circle. This can be done at the showrooms by the inspectors, as they are deputed for this specific purpose, or at a designated space outside the city limits in order to avoid bringing these vehicles into the City.
o Most of the Vehicle parking spaces are marked at 60-degree angles at present and need to be converted into 30 or 45-degree angles. This will ease the movement of a vehicle from the parking space, and also reduce the impact on the traffic flow as more space is available for vehicle movement on the road.
o Motorbikes with the high back seat are meant to be for a single person riding. They are being registered as two wheeler vehicle today, and due to their design, they are very unsafe for the pillion rider. It is recommended that such bikes are registered as single rider vehicles and strictly enforce one-person ride in these vehicles, to avoid accidents/deaths of citizens.
o Taxi aggregators are helping the general public due to their competitiveness & flexibility. It will be really useful if they are allowed in the airport & railway stations in Mangaluru.
o Given the nature of our city with lot of narrow roads and less scope for widening, explore the possibility of making more one-ways / circular roads. Also explore the possibility of flexible road dividers, so that, the road width can be managed dynamically during the day, based on the traffic.
o Most of the people from outside the city / rural areas come to Hampankatta area as most of the Govt offices / Departments exist in this region. Spreading out these offices / departments across the city can reduce the huge traffic of people coming into Hampankatta area.
o Work with educational institutes / business owners (inside the city) and explore the possibilities of changing their timings such that, not all the educational institutes / businesses open / close at the same time.
o Organize for training (on traffic rules) to Taxi / Auto / Bus drivers, with incentive schemes. Private business / group participation can be encouraged for this purpose, as it is going to benefit everyone in the city. Identify the high-density traffic people crossing areas within the city, and plan for sky walks. Cost can be recovered through advertisements / banners from private parties and CSR activities of major companies.
o Truck terminals are required for the Port and the Industrial areas as there is congestion due to parking of trucks along the highways in these areas.
o Address the severe shortage of manpower in the Police Force, especially due to the need for additional manpower due to the heavy density of Traffic in Mangalore City.
Regarding Law and Order :
– In recent times there has been a spate of robberies by imposters posing as Service providers for water filters, LPG suppliers etc.. This needs to be looked into and curbed.
– Door to Door Salesman and Donation Collection Groups need to have themselves registered with the local police stations so that citizens are not harassed and crimes can be avoided.
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