CP Patnaik directs cops to use popular names of roads, not official ones, while issuing alerts.
Take right from Vatsala Bai Desai Chowk to go to Dr Gopalrao Deshmukh Marg. This is how the traffic police and local police would issue instructions for citizens during security checks or crisis situation in the city.
Do you know which part of the city you are in? In Mumbaikar lingo, it means take a right from Haji Ali junction to go to Peddar Road.
Realising that most motorists find it difficult to understand orders as they mention the official road names, the Mumbai commissioner of police Arup Patnaik has issued directions to the traffic branch and local police stations to use popular names of the roads instead.
"This order has been issued to make the police instructions easy for the common man. There are many roads in the city that have two different names — one on the paper and other which is popular among citizens," explained Nisar Tamboli, deputy commissioner of police and official spokesperson for the Mumbai Police.
During bandobasts, the local police alert citizens through text messages regarding traffic diversions. But when they use the official road names, most motorists are left scratching their heads regarding the location.
"This move will help the police department coordinate with the masses in a better way. If there is a crisis situation and we have to inform the citizens about it, then using the official road names could create some confusion," admitted Tamboli.
For example, Mumbaikars know Shaikh Memon Street as Zaveri Bazaar, Vatsala Bai Desai Chowk as Haji Ali junction and Hutatma Chowk as Flora Fountain. What citizens call Tardeo Road is officially Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Road.
"This is a very good move on part of the Mumbai Police, especially for those who have migrated here. Often we could not understand the road names in the traffic alerts," said Sonny Ravan, a rapper who lives in Andheri.
The police department is now working on listing the popular names of all the roads to be used in future when issuing instructions.
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