Unregulated rickshaws create traffic jams
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Arman Amin
EXCLUSIVE rickshaw lanes separated by road dividers exist in a limited member roads only. But the lanes are not used by the rickshawpullers. Nobody is there to enforce the regulation. This is the job of the traffic policemen. But do they care? Recently rickshaws were plying on the wrong side of the road near the New Market, blocking the movement of faster vehicles. The policeman, when asked why he was not asking the rickshawpullers to ply on the left side, gave a harsh look. When the question was repeated, the policemen replied, "mind your own business." When this chap was told that the matter could be taken up with his bosses, he seemed to mellow a bit and said that the rickshawpullers don't give a damn to his commands.
Surely, the policeman's explanation is not acceptable. Anyone can see at all places in the city how even by raising the baton a little policeman brings traffic to a halt. The rickshawpullers can be very obedient. There are exceptions, of course. But the exceptions do not make the rule. The rickshawpullers take to the wrong side of the road for utter lack of traffic policing. The policemen, paid from the public purse, neglect their duty.
The metropolitan traffic authorities need to ensure proper traffic policing. But it seem that they also do not care much. The high ups in the relevant ministries need to ensure that the city gets proper traffic policing.
EXCLUSIVE rickshaw lanes separated by road dividers exist in a limited member roads only. But the lanes are not used by the rickshawpullers. Nobody is there to enforce the regulation. This is the job of the traffic policemen. But do they care? Recently rickshaws were plying on the wrong side of the road near the New Market, blocking the movement of faster vehicles. The policeman, when asked why he was not asking the rickshawpullers to ply on the left side, gave a harsh look. When the question was repeated, the policemen replied, "mind your own business." When this chap was told that the matter could be taken up with his bosses, he seemed to mellow a bit and said that the rickshawpullers don't give a damn to his commands.
Surely, the policeman's explanation is not acceptable. Anyone can see at all places in the city how even by raising the baton a little policeman brings traffic to a halt. The rickshawpullers can be very obedient. There are exceptions, of course. But the exceptions do not make the rule. The rickshawpullers take to the wrong side of the road for utter lack of traffic policing. The policemen, paid from the public purse, neglect their duty.
The metropolitan traffic authorities need to ensure proper traffic policing. But it seem that they also do not care much. The high ups in the relevant ministries need to ensure that the city gets proper traffic policing.