J S Kamra
My six year old daughter Royali said, when our car had to stop suddenly behind a matador, when the guy applied brakes all of a sudden, “papa why the drivers of these matadors stop them all of a sudden in the middle of the road ?” I had no easy answer. So I thought this question should be put to the Traffic Police Department.
Unlike most cities in our country, the summer capital of this state, sadly enough, has no prescribed matador stops. And if there are any, matadors are hardely made to stop there. Result is that they stop anywhere and everywhere. I think even if it is Chief Minister’s residence, matador drivers have the courage to stop in front of it.
So, in Jammu, no matter if you are driving a merc or a BMW, your luxary limos can be stopped in the middle of the road all of a sudden. I am sure that if the C M sahab’s cavalcade is crusing through the city, and the traffic is not stopped for its hasslefree cruising, it will be intresting to see the pilot car of the CM’s cavalcade struck behind a macho matador!!
Another stark reality of our city is that the traffic police does not like to stop the drivers who are busy talking over their mobile phones. So you can reserve the driving time for chatting over the phone as well.
Yet another quite a unique experience regarding moving on the roads can be had only in our city. And that is offenders who jump the traffic lights reach their destinations earlier than those who sheepishly and seeming rather foolishly keep waiting for the green light. It is so as traffic policemen are seldom seen on traffic signals and if they are there, they simply stare at the rule breaker like the rule breaker has molested them. But the truth is that these rule breakers keep on raping our traffic rules day and night. So sad.
Last month I was in Chandigarh on some work. Among other things like beautiful shopping places, their traffic management is really awesome. I wondered why our Jammu city lacks this.Is it because of lack of funds, lack of proper staff, lack of skill, or is it just a lack of will. Whatever the reason, it is best known to the Government. As for as we common people are concerned, we can only grumble about it and keep doing our little jobs.
It is always said that the system in India cannot change. I too believe this. But then I wonder why on earth I am writing this article. May be it is because of some defense mechanism our mind uses to deal with the inability to do something to change the system ourselves.
But one more sriking feature of our traffic police is that no matter how lazy they may seem, not doing anything if a matador stops in the middle of the road, simply remaining standing and not stopping someone who is chatting over the phone while driving, and again remaining mute spectators while one moves ahead while the traffic light is red!!But these very lazy policemen become hyper active on one occasion. guess?
Yes, you guessed it right. It is when some VIP has to come and move on the road. If one is to see the law of the land working perfectly somewhere , it is at this time.
So it is quite apt as to whom the traffic police is meant to serve. It is not we, the common people but the VIPs. It is in quite a contrast to the Western countries where every person whether a begger or a minister is treated equally.
This is why we are still called the third world.
May be one day, no matter how far it may be, we Jammuites see the traffic RULE and not mis rule !!
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel