Shreyas H S
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Aug 5: Traffic violations in the city are nothing new, but if a list of such violations were to be made, this one would probably take the cake.
The commuters at Hampankatta have thrown all cautions to the wind to come up with a simple idea to make their task easy. With traffic officials making their way home after dusk, the commuters, in gross violation of rules, simply move the barricades aside and move through them, with not a care in the world.
The video footage shot by Daijiworld 24x7 TV team shows that a large chunk of two-wheeler riders and auto rickshaw drivers abuse the traffic rules at Hampankatta. The footage shows some motorists sneaking through the small gaps to enter the opposite side of the road instead of making a U-turn at the designated spot. One commuter even moved the barricade to pave the way for four-wheelers!
According to the traffic rule enforced at the spot, the route is supposed to be one-way. The vehicles that ply from KS Rao Road are supposed to make a U-turn near Syndicate Bank while those coming from Falnir or Attavar have to take a roundabout near the Clock Tower. But now, after dark, some of the commuters flout rules and take the 'shortcut' by simply shifting the barricades.
In one instance, an armed policeman himself was caught on camera moving the barricade! In another instance, a traffic policeman is seen simply watching on, seemingly unfettered about the violation.
Violation of rules has become the norm in the absence of any traffic regulators to monitor the situation. The traffic police operating at Hampankatta to ensure one-way flow leave the spot in the evening. The absence of traffic police makes it easy for the violators. Motorists passing through the area were also caught on camera without helmets. The place has become a hot spot for traffic offenders. Just the other day, a woman rider had created ruckus after being caught without helmet.
Uday N Kumar, ACP (traffic), speaking to Daijiworld said that installing a permanent divider on the road would ensure the implementation of the one-way rule. He expressed helplessness over the current violations as the department has not deployed traffic police during the night hours. "Certain amount of responsibility and respect for laws is required among motorists. People should not abuse the traffic norms," he added.
When pointed out that a policeman had moved the barricade to allow vehicles, he said, "It is wrong for a policeman to do this, we do not endorse such acts. Police are there to implement laws and not to break them. I will take serious note of this and instruct the police not to violate rules."