While residents of Kalyan blame the traffic cops for the lack of traffic regulation system, the cops say that they need the help of the residents and the KDMC to make things better. Salim Dolare reports
Crossing roads in Kalyan can mean risking ones life, especially in areas near Shivaji Chowk, Sajanand Chowk and Lal Chowky. According to the residents, there are no safety patrols or traffic police to control the traffic at these junctions. The crowded areas also lack basic infrastructures like a Zebra crossing for the people to cross the roads safely.
The traffic signals are mostly defunct and due to load shedding, crossing the roads during the night becomes doubly chaotic. To add to the grouse of the people are the speed lovers who zoom away on their bikes without sparing a moment for the public to cross. The traffic cops are busy looking around for that extra buck. The old and the handicap are therefore left at the mercy of the drivers or other pedestrians who help them cross the road.
"As RTO is not very strict with the drivers here, they randomly take turns as and when they wish without giving any signals. Most of the pedestrians are confused when they can cross the road and to avert an accident they cross wherever they get a chance. Such utter confusion leads to at least 2-3 accidents every week at these crossings," informs Misal Choudhry a software engineer who runs an institute nearby.
"There are no zebra crossings in Kalyan, so I am at the sympathy of the traffic police, they oblige if they are free, if there are traffic jams I have to request someone to help me cross or I too join the groups who cross stopping the traffic on their own. There are no rules and regulation or time limits for crossing you cross at your own risk," says Sneha Lata a physically challenged housewife.
"Pedestrians cross the roads from everywhere. It is humanly impossible to control traffic of such magnitude and the public at the same time," said a traffic cop at the Shivaji Chowk when confronted. "If they are ready to cross road from a single point, everything would be less chaotic, however there is very little awareness about the rules and regulations so the public just blames the traffic police for the mess they create," he explained.
When DK+ contacted Prabhakar Patil, inspector, traffic department, he said," The traffic is increasing day by day, whereas the number of staff is still the same, inadequate. We have also requested the KDMC to construct subways at various points for people to cross safely. But the corporation says that they can’t do much due to budget constraints. If the KDMC co-operates things would improve," asserts Patil.