By Arfat Khan
Moving ahead from scars of bashing to laudable being beneficial, there is noticeable improvement in the working of Traffic Police in the winter capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Not only roads but indeed the cops are also looking clean, cool and compassionate while handling the unimaginable rush of traffic in the city and its periphery.
They deserves more praise for streamlining the herculean task of managing vehicular movement in Jammu city despite indifferent approach of civil administration as well as Jammu Municipal Corporations who remained mute spectators to the nonstop encroachment of roads and footpaths by Rehri syndicates besides opening of illegal commercial complex along the road side in utter violations of building bye laws. Only God knows what stops SHOs, JMC, JDA and DC Jammu to deal with these Rehris menace which have assumed shape of ever enlarging eclipse on multi crore Jammu’s Smart City project. Partial working of signal lights and complete non functional CCTVs also adds to the miseries of the traffic cops.
Whatever, Traffic Sub Inspector-G.C.Thappa deserves kudos for clearing the age old money minting encroachment from footpath at Indira Chowk. I wondered why over the decades SHO and JMC officials fails to perform their assigned duties despite empowered with vast powers. The failures need to introspect before mirror.
Respect for officers like Mr.Thappa despite the fact he always disturb my ishq vali chai in my school days friend’s shop at Residency Road due to his devotion towards duty.
With being human approach, off course, the cops in blue uniform have no way lowered their guards against habitual violators but the focus is now more towards -first educating the commuters about their personal safety as well as of pedestrians while driving on the road and penalising the offenders with pen sans sticks.
This paradigm transformation in behaviour of traffic cops with jaddu ki jaffi was only possible with the advent of suave and innovative SSP Traffic, Jammu, Mr. Shiv Kumar Sharma, JKPS who set the house in order with his professional acumen with team player traits under the guidance of visionary Traffic Police Chief Mr. T. Namgyal, ADGP, IPS.
This combo of two gentlemen in JKP reminds me couple of decades ago the indelible and impeccable working style of two gems, the then IGP Jammu, Mr. R.V.Raju and the then SSP Jammu Mr.R.R.Swain.
The innovative work unleashed by new SSP traffic under the overall supervision of traffic chief has slowly diminished news of bashing of drivers with sticks and smashing of civilians cars besides netizens criticism for viral videos of cops demanding entry (money) from the drivers.
Criticism is an anecdote which wise men accept as a medicine to cure the various diseases afflicting the system. Now, instead of cosy AC office, the new SSP is on proactive public interactions on the roads and colonies with a sole mission to solicit suggestion and feedback to further strengthen and improve the traffic scenario in the Jammu.
Now, traffic cops are doing their best and now it’s turn of citizens to contribute. The situation on roads can never be up to expectation unless the citizens exhibit sense of duty and acts in a responsible way. The parents need to ensure their dear ones don’t set their feet on gears unless they legally qualify the age for it. If its violation, the parents need to act as cop at home then later crying over the loss of their dear ones on roads. If the civil administration fails to create infrastructure for their parking then its sole job of the public to park their cars in a more responsible way rather than creating hurdles on the road for free flow of traffic.
The government also needs to strengthen the traffic police with more men power and latest gadgets so as to enforce rule of law on roads. There is also urgent need to review posting of some cops who are sticking in the traffic wing for the last so many years. They should be given farewell party and the police chief should rest these blue eyed cops either in Home Guard or Armed wings till their retirement to bring corruption free environment in the traffic police.
Moreover, the Government should also order an enquiry as to what is ailing the newly installed Traffic Signals in the Jammu City. The citizens must be enlightened as to why CCTVS supported signals are not working despite the fact that JMC has spend worth crores for the installation of same for better management of traffic in the Jammu city.
Everyone aims for smooth traffic on road which can never be realised unless every one of us contributes towards it. The citizens and local civil authorities have major role to play thereby avoiding illegal parking along roadside, banning Reharis and pharis on footpaths and roadside, creation of more subways and proper path ways, no illegal matador and auto rickshaw stands and corruption free installation, working and management of traffic signals and CCTV cameras.