Traffic Park shifts to top gear

Traffic Park shifts to top gear

Staff Reporter
It had remained in disuse since its 2004 inauguration
A traffic safety awareness programme for schoolchildren is under way

Children were given handbooks on traffic rules and regulations

BANGALORE: The roads had freshly painted traffic indicators. One could also see the signal lights flickering and some changing from red to green. On one corner you could see some bicycles parked for the use of children.

This was the scene at the refurbished Traffic Park skirting St. Mark’s Road that had largely been in a state of disuse since its inauguration in 2004. The Bangalore Traffic Police chose this park as the venue for the launch of ‘Traffic Awareness for School Kids’, a three-day traffic safety awareness programme for schoolchildren.

“We don’t know the reasons why this park remained unused since its inauguration. Some Rs. 43 lakh has been spent on this park to provide live traffic training for schoolchildren, and it is criminal not to have made use of the park,” said Police Commissioner Shankar M. Bidari.

Promising to make the best use of the park, Mr. Bidari said a systematic programme would be drawn to hold events related to awareness about traffic rules and regulations. “You can also come here with your parents and make use of the facilities,” Mr. Bidari told the schoolchildren. The function started late with Mr. Bidari turning up an hour behind schedule. Children from schools near the park attended the function. “This is the first time I have come here,” said Prajwal, a St. Joseph’s High School student. All the children were given a handbook on traffic rules and regulations of the city police.

Chief Traffic Warden M.T. Naik said from June onwards, there would be programmes on traffic awareness for four days every month at the park to which schoolchildren would be invited.

Mr. Bidari said the target is to cover five lakh children by the end of the year. The number of traffic wardens would be increased to 2,500 by including two teachers from each school, he said.