Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, July 15: In spite of several pointers in this newspaper about the menace caused by tempo drivers who park their three-wheeled �killers� on main thoroughfares of the city by caring two hoots for the law, the Traffic Police authorities continues to turn a Nelson�s eye on the blatantly wrought scenario thereby making a mockery of laws and rules that have been framed for decent and smooth traffic flow especially in a city like Jamshedpur that continues to grow in men, vehicles and stray animals.
Many a time the shameful spectacle of a traffic constable on duty looking here and there and everywhere but on the illegally and unethically parked autorickshaws on vital thoroughfares like the ones around the Sakchi roundabout is ironic to state the least. The auto drivers behave belligerently with other commuters who dare to put across polite complaints because of the hindrances and snarls caused to the traffic flow. The police constable, if and when he is there, remains as per his well cultivated wont, a passive factor.
To cite a scenario of the terrifying tempo trauma around the Sakchi roundabout, The Avenue Mail charts a few routes where the violations are rampant right under the multipurpose noses of the traffic cops. The routes between Sakchi and Bistupur smack opposite the Jamshedpur Eye Hospital, Sakchi-Mango route opposite the Sarkar Building, Sakchi-Station-Golmuri-Telco route starting from near the Sakchi Market entry-exit point on the Kalimati Road, Sakchi-Station-Golmuri-Telco route again near the Basant Talkies building and of course the one near the Sakchi Dispensary on the ever busy Straight Mile Road are only miniscule mentions of unsavory human discretions. This horrendous affair prevails almost in all major city points be it in Bistupur or other like places.
It is all very good that the Traffic Police are on a regular vehicle checking drive especially of two-wheeler riders. Helmets are important for safety against head injuries that may be fatal especially under insane traffic conditions where lawlessness is law. One is forced to ponder as to how young men without helmets speed and weave through the nerve wracking traffic at high speed from left of other vehicles in dangerous manners and yet escape the eyes of the �alert� cops placed at vantage points to nab these young death mongers on their two-wheeled deathtraps? Of what use are the CCTVs placed at so called vantage points? Are these gadgets placed only to detect and nab bike stealers and fleeing gun-slinging robbers? Why are the wrongly (or is it brazenly) parked autorickshaws or tempos in common parlance, not nabbed? Why are the acrobatic two-wheeler young nuisances not booked? When will the traffic cops wake up to this dangerous trend of traffic teasers? One is inclined to compare the stray cows and bulls that sit right in the middle of the comparatively narrow part of the Straight Mile Road near the Old Baradwari Hanuman Mandir on the fringe of the Ram Lila Ground with the traffic cops. Both are oblivious to the traffic mayhem prevailing in the major thoroughfares of an ever growing population of cows and cars, legitimate and illegitimate gentlemen on the move carrying with them the constant risk of life and limbs.
Is it time to bid adieu to traffic sanity or keep the fingers or whatever crossed in the hope that the traffic cops will ultimately wake up from their open-eyed hibernation? The citizens are used to hoping and waiting anyway.
