manoj

The Chembur Naka signal on Mumbai-Pune highway is one of the busiest traffic squares in the north-eastern suburbs of the city. For the past thirteen years, a physically challenged man who is just four-and-a-half feet tall, has been seen assisting the traffic police in controlling the mad rush of vehicles here. His amazing sense of traffic has made him popular amongst the motorists and the traffic police personnel on duty. Raman (42), popularly known as handicap Raman, is the unauthorized traffic warden at the junction of R C Road (which connects Ghatkopar and Mahul) and Mumbai-Pune highway.

Raman, who has a single hand, start his day at 7 in the morning to help school children cross the road. Hundreds of school children from four schools in the vicinity cross the junction everyday in the morning, afternoon and evening. “I lost my younger sister in a road accident when she was five. We were in Kolkata and she was knocked down by a speeding vehicle on her way to school. I sincerely believe that nobody should lose their beloved in a road accident here till I am alive,” said Raman. Raman cares for school children and this is exactly why he is invariably spotted at the junction round the year.

The whole day Raman is seen busy controlling the traffic voluntarily. And surprisingly, the traffic police never prevent him doing so. The endless stream of vehicles on R C Road just about 50 feet from the junction results in a traffic jam at the junction. The non-stop traffic doesn’t permit the cop to concentrate on individual lanes. “Whenever Raman sees a jam near the RC Road bottleneck, he rushes to that end of the junction and guides the vehicles to clear the traffic behind. A person who is capable of controlling this ever busy signal, can easily manage any other signal in the city,” said Sub Inspector D M More of Traffic Police, Chembur.

“Motorists impressed by him offer him money but he never begs. People also donate him clothes,” said a shopkeeper from Chembur Naka.

Satish Mhatre, a Class 7 student who knows Raman for the past 7 years, said, “In case the signal is not working, Raman stops the traffic even in the presence of cops and lets us cross the road.” A traffic constable posted on a towing van said, “Motorists who know him obey his orders quickly. Others don’t believe him immediately because of his dishevelled appearance and low profile but follow him later on the suggestions of auto drivers passing by.”

Raman is alone in Mumbai living in a shanty at Siddarth colony a few meters away from the junction. His poor parents never sent him to school. The man does not remember anyone from his family. He cannot speak properly, his broken Hindi difficult to understand, but he can stand at the signal from 7 in the morning till 12 midnight. Nobody has seen him tired or sitting for a break. Controlling the traffic at this signal is his work.

Source

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Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

rupali

I appreciate the efforts of Mr. Raman and want to suggest government or local traffic authorities should encourage volunteers like Raman by giving him financial or any kind of support therefore more people can come forward to manage the traffic.

manoj

Junagadh: TRAFFIC and social policing have merited this Bobby a prestigious honour. For Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) and Prince Michael International Road Safety Award (PMIRSA), UK, awarded ‘Road Safety Award-2006’ to Junagadh city traffic branch’s head constable Shambhu Parmar.

The award was handed out by Dr Kiran Bedi, IPS, Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development at a function organised recently at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.

Parmar is the first person in Junagadh police, and perhaps in Gujarat police, to have earned such a laurel. He has just added another feather in his cap, in his service spanning five years, as he pocketed as many awards for his social policing and positive approach so as to create traffic awareness among people.

Parmar, a prominent figure of Junagadh traffic branch is popular among people and is nicknamed Bobby, on the lines of London’s ‘Bobby’ policemen. After he completes his official work hours, Parmar, instead of going home, starts another duty—social policing.

He approaches school and colleges and holds interaction with students, informing them about road safety rules and possible results of reckless driving.

He also warns them about serious consequences of breaking traffic rules and legal fallout of driving vehicle without a valid licence.

Because of his joint efforts with RTO around 5,000 students of various colleges and school have been provided a driving licence.

His road safety and students awareness campaign have also been instrumental in reducing accidents in the city.

News Source

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Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

motorbike

Only in our Country, any road accidents are taken very carelessly and after the initial High drama and Police report, everything goes under carpet. Road transport and traffic authority Do not have the required department to look into the finer points like cause of the accidents and future cure process etc… for this type of accidents to reoccur which is very necessary and helpful in eradicating the problems.

babu

First of all, the traffic authorities need to wake up and expect full responsibility of the situation. Many learning institutions are providing awareness on traffic safety; this can really help to produce future drivers.

karan

Well babu...It is high time that Traffic authorities in India should pull up their socks to make possible proper maintenance of such uneven and under developed roads. Ditch also becomes breading home for mosquitoes during rainy seasons which later leads to diseases like malaria and dengue which too are responsible for many deaths as is lack of road safety in India.