No More a Banana Republic
I was elated to learn from the news that our new CM is doing the rounds of the city to observe the traffic conditions for herself. It is heartening to know that she has given instructions to the police to tone down the convoy menace. It is about time too.
During the previous regime it had grown into a ridiculous exercise of proportions very similar to that depicted in Tintin and the Picaros. Sirens wailing, everyone shoved out of the way and an uncertain wait till the tinpot dictator passed on. No relief even after that. The police made everyone wait and took their own time till they were pleased to allow us to move on. Of course by that time, traffic snarls developed all around and it took quite a long time to ease back to normal.
One of the favorite locations to watch the circus was, well, --- Park Circus 7-point intersection. I know because I have been unfortunate enough to have been there at so many times (mostly at the wrong place, at the wrong time). I have also been a victim when I was fined for going through a green signal. I came down the AJC Bose Road flyover and at the 7-point crossing I moved towards the Bypass Connector but was stopped by the police sergeant on duty. My fault was that I did not know that the green signal was for the convoy, that was quite a distance behind me, and not for me. I was supposed to pull over on coming down the flyover. Anyway, the convoy turned right towards Gariahat but the police officer in the pilot car had radioed the sergeant to stop me and impose a fine. While I was going through the formalities of making the spot payment, I did ask him to find out why didn't the constable on duty at the entry ramp of the flyover ask me to wait until the convoy had passed? Why did he wave me through? I did not get any answer. But at that instant I realized that Kolkata had metamorphosed into a typical banana republic where the police had become stooges of those in power.
Let's hope that those times are not going to be revisited. Kolkata needs desperate measures to bring the situation back to normal. The police force also has a lot of work ahead and needs to get its priorities right. It needs to focus on the realities than to bully innocent persons and in turn get bullied by organized unions who flout all traffic rules with impunity. Fair and firm should be the motto.
During the previous regime it had grown into a ridiculous exercise of proportions very similar to that depicted in Tintin and the Picaros. Sirens wailing, everyone shoved out of the way and an uncertain wait till the tinpot dictator passed on. No relief even after that. The police made everyone wait and took their own time till they were pleased to allow us to move on. Of course by that time, traffic snarls developed all around and it took quite a long time to ease back to normal.
One of the favorite locations to watch the circus was, well, --- Park Circus 7-point intersection. I know because I have been unfortunate enough to have been there at so many times (mostly at the wrong place, at the wrong time). I have also been a victim when I was fined for going through a green signal. I came down the AJC Bose Road flyover and at the 7-point crossing I moved towards the Bypass Connector but was stopped by the police sergeant on duty. My fault was that I did not know that the green signal was for the convoy, that was quite a distance behind me, and not for me. I was supposed to pull over on coming down the flyover. Anyway, the convoy turned right towards Gariahat but the police officer in the pilot car had radioed the sergeant to stop me and impose a fine. While I was going through the formalities of making the spot payment, I did ask him to find out why didn't the constable on duty at the entry ramp of the flyover ask me to wait until the convoy had passed? Why did he wave me through? I did not get any answer. But at that instant I realized that Kolkata had metamorphosed into a typical banana republic where the police had become stooges of those in power.
Let's hope that those times are not going to be revisited. Kolkata needs desperate measures to bring the situation back to normal. The police force also has a lot of work ahead and needs to get its priorities right. It needs to focus on the realities than to bully innocent persons and in turn get bullied by organized unions who flout all traffic rules with impunity. Fair and firm should be the motto.
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