manoj

Drive fizzles out as soon as senior officials leave the spot


With cops on their toes and defaulting vehicles lined up, action was going full throttle on the tenth day of the drive both “at” and “behind” the scene.

Sample this, a vehicle is caught and let off after negotiations. “My vehicle was caught for black film but it is not very dark so I have been allowed to go,” said the owner before he sped off. A constable handling his “case” was quick to add, “inki gaadi mein pradushan yantra nahin hai, itna jurmana yeh de nahin paenge.”

In another instance, “Udhar SP sahab hain, idhar aao,” another constable directed people who were asking for a let go. The instances are suggestive of traffic personnel colluding with the law breakers.

“We have only four senior officers and it is not always possible to be present at the spot all the time. The moment we leave the place, drive looses its pace,” said Superintendent of Police (traffic) Ratan Kumar Srivastav on why drive looses momentum in his absence.

The defaulters, however, tried the tested reasons to escape the whip.

“I have been charged Rs 18,000 for this black film” said one, to which added another, “I will keep the rules in mind from now on”. While some negotiated for hours others offered, “Take whatever you want and leave us alone.” It was not only nagar nigam which was found erring with its vehicle parked wrongly and almost no numbers on its plate but also a traffic policeman who drove away without a helmet after fining a man for the same.

“We successfully removed encroachment from Charbagh today. Most of the roadside vendors have left the place but we would take strict action against those who are still not listening specially the cloth sellers. As far as Roadways buses are concerned there were few caught on the road. Today we saw most of them stationed at the stand, “ said Srivastav summing up Tuesday’s drive.

Talking about Alambagh encroachment, he said, “Nagar nigam would be called for help.”

“All constructions encroaching on the road would be razed. The traders have agreed to it. Till now, there was no challan on Alambagh-Bara Birwa route but now on we would continue manning the place and defaulters would be brought to book there.”

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Lucknow Edition)
Date Of Publish: 20-Dec-06

__________________
Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

manoj

Turning a blind eye towards the vehicle of the rich and influential and getting hold of the common man’s vehicle, has become a routine for traffic policemen in the city. The fact that the Lucknow traffic police have no system whatsoever to tow away bigger cars, explains how well-determined they are, when it comes to taking action against the high and mighty.

For those who do not believe, here’s an example. One Rajat Mishra, an elderly man, parked his Maruti Zen on the road opposite Hazratganj police station on Tuesday to offer prayers at the nearby Hanuman temple. When he returned, he saw policemen towing away his car. He, along with his wife ran after the traffic constables in a bid to convince them, but they refused to budge and issued a challan to him. They allowed him to go only after he paid the fine.

At the same time, an eight-seater, bearing a Samajwadi Party flag was parked in front of Mishra’s car. Not only this, a white car with ‘UP government’ imprinted on it was parked towards the Soochana Kendra library, hardly a few metres away from Mishra’s car. But the traffic police men did not notice them.

“They did not tow the other cars just because they belonged to people from the ruling party and the state government. The parking lot was already full, we had nowhere to go. Even the work was finished in less than ten minutes,” said Mishra’s wife Anandi. But Mishra’s words were lost among the allegations that he was an irresponsible person. “All these men are ‘obediant’ government servants. None of them have the guts to go and clamp these vehicles,” shouted Mishra.

A traffic constable, preferring anonymity, told that issuing challans is the only way to punish big car owners. But no one dares to pick their cars because the dare devilry may bounce back in the form of a transfer order.

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Lucknow Edition)
Date Of Publish: 21-Dec-06

__________________
Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

manoj

A post-card size sticker signed by authorities and detailing the traffic rules would be stuck near the steering so that drivers could not forget it. More than 1,500 such stickers have been given for printing. "Even after this if the buses are found causing congestion we would fine them Rs 1,000,"

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Lucknow Edition)
Date Of Publish: 28-Dec-06

__________________
Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.