Gandhigiri at the junction

Gandhigiri at the junction
From Today, TOI And Bangalore Traffic Police Launch Innovative Zero Tolerance Junction Management Programme Across The City
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Now, it’s time for some action on the ground. After brainstorming sessions exploring ways to unlock Bangalore roads, The Times of India and Bangalore Traffic Police will together try to improve some junctions from Tuesday.
Over the next seven days at six junctions, TOI, traffic police and volunteers from TOI readers will kickstart a positive campaign — the zero tolerance junction management programme. The message is straight and simple — ‘No passing the buck, instead pledging that I will not violate traffic rules’.
“As the epics say, danda (punishment) is the last resort after sama, bheda and dana fail. We are not a revenue making department. Collection of revenue was just accidental though. We want people to be selfrestrained. Motorists should pledge that they will abide by the traffic rules. My department’s policemen are happy to be associated with such a novel programme,’’ additional commissioner of police (traffic) Praveen Sood explained.
Junction improvement has been a priority for traffic police for a long time now. Impatient motorists create chaos at some junctions as their impatiently wait for the countdown for the signal lights to change. Small things like jumping the amber light, riding zigzag while approaching the junction and inching towards the pedestrian crossing create hazardous situations.
The Unlock Bangalore campaign found that only a positive campaign can change the mindset of motorists. “Gone are the days when motorists were shocked into compliance by showing gory pictures of accidents and asking them not to drink and drive. We must educate them in a positive manner. Giving messages stating that as a responsible motorist what one should do is more meaningful than telling them what not to do. We are also looking at crisp oneliners which will have sharp message,’’ Sood pointed.
WHAT WE OFFER YOU: At all six junctions, volunteers will hand out a pledge form to the motorists. All that a motorist has to do is fill in the pledge form and deposit it at the petrol bunk. We consider you as Bangalore’s responsible motorist. When we say smallest amount indiscipline leads to chaos, let us not forget that the same amount of discipline will make a lot of difference.
“For example, Police Thimmaiah, D’Souza and K R Market circles are the central business areas. You will find heavy traffic at these junctions almost throughout the day. In such junctions, each motorist should think that he is equally responsible for smooth movement of vehicles. Commitment by the motorists is important,’’ he said.
So, motorists get ready to receive some Gandhigiri. In this programme, you the motorists are the leaders. Henceforth, no pointing finger at the fellow motorist, no jumping of amber light, no zig-zag drive by jumping the lane and most importantly no more darting across the zebra crossing.
JUNCTIONS
D’Souza Circle (Near Lifestyle) South End Circle (Jayanagar) K R Circle (K R Market) Police Thimmaiah Circle (Near GPO) Kamaraj Circle (Near Commercial Street) Hudson Circle (Near Corporation)
PETROL BUNKS
Sai Service Centre (Kasturba Road) Webbs (M G Road) Ulsoor Service Station (Ulsoor) Sai Krishna service station (Old Madras Road) D M and Sons (Airport Road) Amar Service station (Marathahalli) Max Service station (Kundanahalli) Liberty Service station (R V Road) South End service station (South End circle) M S R service station (N R Colony) HSR Layout (Bannerghatta Road) Deve Gowda petrol bunk (Banashankari) Putta Linga Raju service station (JP Nagar) City service station (Banashankari) East End service station (Cox Town) Gojjers service station (Jayamahal, RT Nagar) Shankara service station (Malleswaram) Highway Needs (Hebbal) Sangam service station (Bashyam Circle) CO service station (opposite Ramaiah Hospital)