As you are doing your job, you have a moral right to ask the judiciary, ask the state and ask the people to do their jobs too
Dear Sir,
As I have just watched a young traffic policewoman hopelessly requesting some young citizens to get back to stop-line at a junction, and getting almost killed as they whizzed past her, I have a serious question for you.
At this point, the entire traffic issue is getting branded as if it is your problem. You have also responded with remarkable zeal, and have really inspired your force to rise to the occasion. I can see traffic cops opening gutters to reduce waterlogging even if it is not their job. City police has found a rare hero in you, and has gravitated around your personal charisma of taking the bull of traffic by its horn. But, while you are driving your forces to perform, you need to start thinking. Is traffic really your problem alone?
Even though we have CCTV-based traffic violation registration, we are not fining 99% of violators for various reasons. How will you enforce law if the government doesn't muster the political will to do so?
The entire city is filled with unauthorised street-food vendors who have established themselves on every street corner that they clog by usurping public spaces. What can the police do if the Municipal Corporation doesn't act against the illegal vendors?
Loading rickshaws are a real menace on the city roads. Today, it is entirely possible for illegal immigrants or illegal residents to rent a rickshaw, and commit a traffic violation or even a murder. How are you going to deal with it if the RTO doesn't regulate this?
Lot worse is the parking issue, where the problem has compounded because of state succumbing to public pressure and greedy builders flouting every norm. We have buildings that were cleared under impact-fee provisions that are actually sans parking. There is no doubt that a number of such buildings are cleared based on having "managed" a parking nearby that actually is on paper only. With no real parking available, and impact-fee provisions completely compromised, how can the police be expected to solve the parking issue?
The state continues to push FSI higher through various provisions without bothering to see carrying capacity of roads. It builds a BRTS network in a hot city where the people can't walk, and it doesn't respond to public feedback that it isn't working. It carries on making two-lane roads even when an opportunity like river-front development arrives to build a wider artery through city-center was available.
When all other arms of the state are working hard to make your problem more difficult, how long do you feel your forces can remain positive, inspired and committed? Sir, the time has come for you to start asking questions.
Why don't we have at least 10,000 sq mt land earmarked for a police station in every town planning scheme? Why is the police not involved with the urban infrastructure projects since the beginning? Why isn't the police called to be a participating stakeholder in the decision making, and instead called only when there is a problem?
It is time that the police starts having a real say in decision-making. If the police is going to act like the proverbial Bollywood police that arrives only after the crime is committed, it will be fighting a hopeless battle that it can never win.
I look at the spotlight on you to be a moment of opportunity. You are holding the stage and all eyes are on you. Speak up, on behalf of the young people working for you. As you are doing your job, you have a moral right to ask the judiciary, ask the state and ask the people to do their jobs too.
City-based science nomad who tries to find definitive answers
samir.shukla@icloud.com
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 "Traffic violation")
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