Keeping two things in mind — how every second is crucial for ambulances and fire engines during a disaster and the city's perennial bumper-to-bumper traffic problem — the Mumbai traffic police has a plan. They are in the process of installing public address (PA) systems at important junctions to ensure smooth maneuvering of ambulances and fire tenders.
Keeping two things in mind — how every second is crucial for ambulances and fire engines during a disaster and the city's perennial bumper-to-bumper traffic problem — the Mumbai traffic police has a plan. They are in the process of installing public address (PA) systems at important junctions to ensure smooth maneuvering of ambulances and fire tenders.
The move comes in the backdrop of the Kalbadevi fire, which claimed two fire officials. The systems will relay messages on roads about vehicular movement of ambulances and fire tenders in a bid to ensure motorists avoid those routes and, thereby, lessen congestion.
According to the plan drawn up by the joint commissioner of police (traffic) Milind Bharambe, the city traffic police, after identifying important signals in the city with maximum traffic, will provide its personnel with a loudspeaker.
"I thought there was a need for such a public address system in the city and the idea was discussed in the meeting we had after the Kalbadevi incident," said Bharambe.
"Once the main signals are identified and our men given loudspeakers, whenever there is movement of an ambulance or fire tender, the main traffic control will be informed which will relay the message to the personnel on roads via walkie-talkies. Accordingly, they will announce the same through the loudspeakers and request people to clear the road for the ambulance and fire tender."
The traffic police is launching the project with the intention of educating people and, hence, initially, there are no plans of penalising people if they don't adhere to the instructions issued on the public address system.
"Mumbaikars are law-abiding people and given an opportunity they will surely clear the road for emergency vehicles. So, to begin with, we will not fine them if they don't follow the instructions," said Bharambe.
He added, "We will also use other means, such as SMS, WhatsApp and FM channels to relay messages to make roads less congested." The PA system will also be used to quell rumours.
Last September, the Mumbai police launched an initiative 'Make Way for Ambulance', which was inaugurated by police commissioner Rakesh Maria and actress Rani Mukherjee. As per the initiative, ambulance service providers were requested to call on 8879221100 whenever they had patients in critical condition on board to enable the police to ensure they reach the hospital as quickly as possible, by clearing the route they are on to the maximum possible extent.
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