Resuming’ sojourn through Durgotsav traffic mayhem in Jamshedpur

Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Oct 19: Durgotsav means fun, frolic, mirth, merrymaking, pandal hopping, fairgrounds, new dress comparisons and counts and of course, plates of delicious and stomach-upsetting Chaat. But these are all desired facets of that much needed break from the rigours of daily and tedious living.

The only undesired factor, however, amidst the bouquet of Durga Puja joy that is never-the-less forced upon merry makers is the nerve-wreaking traffic mayhem that commences innocuously before noon and keeps swelling incessantly till the dawn’s twilight hours. The already mangled nerves are given additional pinches by acrobatic urchins riding those high-speed two-wheelers acquired with their dads’ borrowed deals, zigzagging their way dangerously through minimal gaps between bumpers of honking cars.

This has been the ‘traditional, constipated’ and unwholesome Durgotsav traffic scenario in the city when even the less frequented streets also become condensed thoroughfares for ‘the one-time saner’ motorists who seek a shortcut and congestion-free path to their desired pandals.

The result, of course, is again honking cars in traffic bottlenecks. The situation is that of insanity at its peak. One is bound to parody Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s, ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ by replacing, ‘Water-water everywhere…’ with, ‘Mayhem-mayhem everywhere…’

In spite of their sincerest efforts, the district and police administrations have failed to prevent sanity from breaking out of the civility box. Police personnel, officials et al on foot, two-wheelers, vans and other vehicles have been seen keeping watch at vantage traffic points but, at best, they found themselves as helpless bystanders watching the maddening traffic congestions worsening with every passing moment. Even the CCTV cameras and the traffic control room surrounded by rows of TV monitors have failed to inject sense into an insane traffic.
However, one may cautiously be optimistic going by filtered news reports that the district and police administrations have now resolutely buckled their belts and pulled up their socks to tighten their defence mechanism against the Durgotsav traffic menace that has now become as traditional as the festive rituals.
The rush-tide will flow from Thursday, Panchami and attain maddening swirls with the ascending moments of Durga puja celebratory fever. On the midnight of Wednesday, decent crowds were observed at the Kasidih Thakur Pyara Singh-Thakur Dhurandar Singh Club Durga Puja Pandal, Sabuj Kalyan Sangh in Telco, Praveen Singh Seva Sansthaan, Adityapur, Hind Club, Ranikudar, Tarun Sangha, Sonari, Kadma Rankini Mandir and a few other popular pandals.
Thursday being Panchami, the remaining Durga Puja pandals will be inaugurated. The Puja excitement will be further bolstered. Traffic flow will gain momentum. Snarls will begin to show. This is where the district and police administrations have to show their refurbished resolution to chastise the hitherto untamed Durgotsav traffic and make pandal hopping a joyous experience that will once again be in consonance with the celebratory spirit. Let the citizens mean it when they say, “Shubho Durgotsav.”