*The Light of Andamans:::Issue 28, 1 July 2006*

*New Initiatives in Traffic Management*
By Govinda Raju

Prosperity has its own peril. Port Blair town is not increasing as it should
have. Bulk of population is compressed in 17 square kilometers of municipal
area. Civic amenities and infrastructure that was good enough for a
population of 75000 to one lakh, find it difficult to cope up with over 2
lakh people. It is bursting through the seams. The amenities and facilities
are unable to meet the increasing demands.
The number of automobiles keeps on increasing day by day. There were
over 40,000 of various types of motor vehicles by the end of April 2006. A
whopping 29,986 of them were two wheelers including 11, 796 motor cycles,
15,214 scooters and 2976 mopeds. Bulk of these vehicles; over 50% by any
count, are in Port Blair municipal area. Congested thoroughfares, clogged
streets and jammed by-lanes are the result.
The traffic management is in chaos. It is run with a skeletal staff and
officers. Infrastructure is lacking. There are pressures, mostly political,
to protect the defaulters. It is race against time since the new vehicles
keep on adding to increase the chaos.
Multiplicity of authority is another problem. Licensing is with the Police,
permit with the State Transport Authority and meter calibration and
verification with the Civil Supplies. All these authorities have to look at
the Secretariat for clearance of every major and minor decision.
But a common man is not concerned with the problems of the state or the
Police or Civil Supplies or the State Transport Authority. He must get what
is his due. And getting a transport for his chosen destination; at a right
price, at the right time; day or night, is his fundamental right. His right
is violated by arbitrary and whimsical actions of the autowallahs and he is
concerned.
Muted protests are heard for a long time. We decided to talk to the right
people; the Civil Supplies Department, the Police and the State Transport
Authority. It was found that the State Transport Authority comes into action
when a permit is to be cancelled. The case never reaches that stage. Mr. R.P.
Singh, Assistant Director (Civil Supplies) explained their position and Mr.
Govind Ram, Director (Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs) reiterated it.
Mr. Jaspal Singh, Superintendent of Police was very candid and forthcoming
in his response to our questions. Incidentally, Mr. Vikram Porwal, Deputy
Superintendent of Police, South Andaman and Mr. N. Rasheed, Inspector
(Traffic) were also present when this reporter met Mr. Jaspal Singh in
chamber on June 26.
Mr. Jaspal Singh agreed at the outset that there were complaints against the
auto drivers. But he also lamented that neither the citizens nor any
activist group took any step to take the complaint further. A vigilant
public is the best antidote against such wrong doers. Police is also
handicapped in the absence of pressure groups in the public for right
causes.
He explained that many proposals were on the anvil to help the commuters as
also to improve the general condition of congestion at commercial centres in
town.
Some of them are:
• Introduction of pre-paid auto hiring as it is prevalent in many cities
on the mainland. Initially the points would be GB Pant Hospital, Airport and
Mohanpura Auto Stand. Later on more points would be added.
• More Parking places, 12 of them in all to be precise,
• Display of large hoardings detailing norms about safe driving, traffic
imperatives etc at vintage points,
• Booklets on Traffic Education for school children etc.
During interview many paints came up.
• Denial of free Left Turn at traffic crossings,
• Long periods, one minute to be exact, at major traffic intersections
causing pollution hazard as well as burning costly fuel even when there is
no traffic,
• Outside autorickshaws congesting the already saturated traffic
scenario in municipal area.
Mr. Singh tried to explain that free left turn was stopped just for a few
seconds to allow merger of two streams of traffic flow.
He agreed to look at long periods of halt and to specify it for a couple of
hours in the morning and evening during peak rush hours. Rest of the day it
can have short halts.
About identification of the autorickshaws of Port Blair municipal area,
he said the department was toying with the idea of having a different colour
for them. Outside autos would be permitted to carry a passenger from rural
area to a fixed point in town and return without soliciting local business.
However, if a passenger hails it for a trip back to rural area, he would be
permitted to take him. Same would be valid for autos of municipal area.


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