Mangaluru: Yet another milestone was achieved by the Mangaluru City Police Traffic department as it launched the Traffic Warden Squad (TWS) with the cooperation of students in the city on October 2. The TWS is an attempt towards better management of the city’s traffic.
Prior to the inauguration, a traffic warden squad rally was flagged off by Dr Aloysius P D’Souza, Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese at Hampankatta signal.
At a formal functionDr Habeeb Rahman, Chairman of Unity Health Complex inaugurated the program by lighting the lamp.
94-year-old Joe Gonsalves is the Chief Traffic Warden of the 30 member squad, out of which 23 are Traffic Wardens, 2 are public volunteers, and 4 are Deputy Traffic wardens.
Speaking about Gonsalves and his contribution to this movement, Dr Habeeb Rahman in his inaugural address said, “Joe is actively involved when there arise any problems in the community. He has contributed his service to the major problem in the city. Now as he has taken the responsibility of a great area which the public is in need of, the traffic movement will be better and the people can maintain peace and harmony and drive in ease in the city.”
Udaya M Naik, ACP – Traffic Sub-Division briefing about the traffic warden squad said, “It was planned one year ago, and we joined hands to build a team which has the approval of the state government and has set certain rules and regulations.”
“The squad will help the traffic dept in many ways- Such as to make vehicle drivers aware of their responsibilities in respect of road rules, conduct road safety campaigns, and also to assist the traffic police in directing and regulating the vehicular and pedestrian traffic”, he said.
“They are given authority to report traffic violations, whenever noticed, to the traffic police and also to assist the traffic police department in any other activities like organizing special drives.
The squad is given police constable level power and the public should be careful about violating the traffic rules”, he added.
K M Shantharaj, ACP Law and Order administeredthe Oath to the Traffic Warden Squad.
Certificates and ID cards were distributed to TWS members by the dignitaries.
Joe Gonsalves shared his past experience of the Mangaluru Traffic system. He has an experience of 75 years. “I know the history of the traffic situation in Mangaluru from 1930 onwards”.
“I am not on a fault-finding mission but on fact-finding mission”, he said and added that the Milagres College, St Aloysius Technical Training Institute, St Joseph’s College, Jeppu and St Agnes College students have helped him immensely to gather the required human resource.
S Murugan IPS, Commissioner of Police in his presidential address said, “It is a matter of pride for us that a man who is disciplined and has the quality of time management has set an example for us and is part of our department”, he said.
He further explained that the concept of traffic wardens already exists in Bengaluru and Mysuru. These are voluntary organization which helps the traffic department in order to regulate the traffic and to ensure its smooth flow in the city. “We have got the necessary permission from the government”, he said.
“There is nothing to get excited about the TWS, but we all need to be disciplined in order to maintain the traffic system. The traffic police alone can’t maintain the traffic in disciplined way, but the participation of public and all the concerned departments is very essential, only then there can be a smooth flow of traffic in the city. And TWS should also extend their services and expand in order to reach in areas out of Mangaluru where there is a need of traffic management and should contribute to make Mangaluru a SMART city”, he urged.
K M Shantharaj, ACP Law and Order, Sanjeev Patil, DCP, K Rajavarma Ballal, president of Canara Bus Operators’ Association were on the dais.
Traffic Inspector Suresh Kumar delivered the vote of thanks.
