A traffic police distributing pamphlets to motorists. The pamphlet had a list of things to follow while driving. The initiative was part of the road safety day program conducted by the area's Lion's club. There were some school kids and adults volunteering for the activity. In a place where government officials are seldom pro-active, this was a pleasant and mildly amusing sight. As a mark of respect to this club, cop and kids, I wear my helmet each and every day now (though I smuggle my ipod into my ears through the helmet-head boundary. But hey, songs are my only respite while driving in the peak hour rush amidst choked roads, blaring horns and blazing sun.)
Thanks to this incident, I've come up with a set of suggestions on how we can transform the role and image of our city's traffic cops from uncompromising vasool-rajas to stylish and accommodating Major Mannars.
No more traffic cops! Instead Chennai City will have a set of Transport Facilitation Teams. There'll be 17 such teams to cover the 176 sq.km area of the city. So each team gets approximately 10 sq.km of jurisdiction.
Each team will consist of 10 members and their roles will be divided thus:
1. A rocket riders squad - 4 members. These guys/girls will be daredevil cops and would keep patrolling their jurisdiction constantly. In the city's arterial lanes such as GST road, NH road, Arcot Road, there'll be freelancers to assist them (illegal racers and efficient youth can be employed for this). This might also generate part time employment and provide a good avenue for many amazing young riders in the city who find professional racing a costly affair. The rocket riders will chase rash drivers and drunkards and punish them on the spot. This means that they'll be some sort of white knights in an Apache and not the paunchy traditional nose-picking nitwits.
2. Sara Vedi Sirs: 2 members. They are in-charge of complete monitoring and they communicate with the rocket riders and keep informing them as to what is going on around them based in their video surveillance in crucial junctions. They also take care of emergency calls, forward calls to ambulance and act as the big brothers of the traffic scene in their jurisdiction.
3. Mathaappu monks: 2 members. They form the Research and cultural wing of the team. They bring in new ideas to regulate traffic, innovative activities to engage motorists and make their travel tolerable. They also initiate awareness campaigns and bring in an element of fun to the whole scene. During peak hours, they make announcements in crowded spots to aid Sara Vedi Sirs and Rocket Riders.
4. Bijli Vedi Boy and Atom Bomb Uncle: While Bijli Vedi Boy is a mechanic who takes care of problems in signals, CCTVs and also keeps the bikes of the rocket riders and others in fine tune, Atom Bomb Uncle is a construction guy who takes immediate care of minor road problems, ditches, putting in new speed breakers and the sort.
There'll be awards for the best maintained jurisdiction for which a gold rimmed cap would be given to the Officers of the particular team. So hopefully there'll be healthy competition among the 17 teams and the deserved winner will patrol his area proudly with his gold rimmed cap.
This set up would also change the minds of Chennai's commuters. The curse-at-sight & fine-at-sight interaction would give way to mutual understanding and respect for road rules. The traffic cops too wouldn't anymore be sluggish sloths but stylish municipal stars.
Instrument of Instructions (The background of the scene, a concept similar to the directive principles of the Indian Constitution, which was borrowed from the Irish, who in turn took it from the Spanish): Attention should be given to recruitment. For instance, daredevil yet responsible riders for the Rocket team, mature and analytical guys as Sara Vedi Sirs, humorous and pro-active guys as Mathaappu Monks, efficient and active guys as Atom Bomb Uncle and Bijli Vedi Boy would make the Transport Facilitation Team a grand successful combo.
Signing off here is Agarbatti administrator - Shyam.
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