A problem has to be a truly serious one if even hardcore BJP supporters begin to question the functioning of the Dhami Government. This is what the traffic crisis in Dehradun and other cities of Uttarakhand has led to. The questions being asked are simple – why is the police force unable to enforce the discipline necessary to ensure smooth flow of traffic? Not enough manpower? But then how come there are enough to surround the VIPs when they whizz past? How come those seen on duty spend their time watching their smartphones instead of focusing on their job?
Is the task too overwhelming? Veterans of the armed forces ask what would happen if soldiers guarding the borders in very difficult conditions were to say the same? Is the leadership in the police force unaware of how the problem is to be dealt with because they have not been appropriately trained and mentored during their years in service? While they may continue to retirement regardless of their performance, their political bosses have to face greater accountability when it is election time. In Uttarakhand, that date is not too far and should the opposition be favoured by voters only because commuters suffer as they go to work every day?
This is also one of the reasons why people are not too excited about the government’s plans to expand the road infrastructure that would bring in more out of state traffic. People ask what good has installation of CCTV cameras and experimentation with traffic lights done. Why are not the many violators of traffic rules not being challaned with the intensity required to mend their behaviour? The price is being paid by the deaths that take place on the roads every day.
As is known, road safety traditionally has three elements – enforcement, engineering and education. All three approaches have to be up to date so that the requirements can be met. Why do not people understand the advantages of proper lane driving? Because it has not been explained to them properly in their schools, at home and in the community. Mere lectures will not serve the purpose if well planned power point presentations are not used to explain the logic. Similarly, planning of road infrastructure has become a very sophisticated science the world over – merely constructing roads as and where possible is not the solution. As for enforcement, it is not so much the actual ‘capture’ of violators that is important; they have to be psychologically nudged into compliance with the rules. If the problem goes on for much longer, the government may see a serious drop in its popularity.
