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Cops Clear Traffic Chaos And Implement Some New Traffic Measures At La Martiniere Schools

By Shashank, Section Kolkata Police
Posted on Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 04:28:29 AM EST

Finally, some tough measures to address traffic chaos and spare drivers a headache during school hours.

On Monday, a city traffic police team led by deputy commissioner (traffic) M K Verma chose Loudon Street and Rawdon Street to implement some new traffic measures. Two big schools La Martiniere for Boys and Girls are located on these roads. "When the schools break for the day, an additional row of cars are parked on the roads, which hampers vehicular movement. Both roads get choked in the afternoon," said a senior traffic police officer.

Police, who have till now had a harrowing time managing traffic on these roads, were looking for a sustainable solution. "We decided to ban the extra parking row from the Shakespeare Sarani crossing to AJC Bose Road crossing till 2 pm. We asked parents to get off only after crossing the school gate and park their cars in designated areas beyond Shakespeare Sarani and AJC Bose Road," said another officer.

School Rules

On-road parking banned Special lane for school * cars Arrive, drop or pick up your child, leave Get off car beyond school gate
Schools near each other to get over at different times

This minor but effective change implemented in the afternoon made a lot of difference. On Monday, both Loudon Street and Rawdon Street stayed clear. "It is major relief. Almost every day, we get stuck on these roads at the time the students come out. If Kolkata Police manage to keep these roads clear at this hour, it will be a major achievement," said Asim Ghosh Dastidar, an employee of the bank on this road.

But not everyone is happy. Particularly, mothers with small kids waiting inordinately for their cars were peeved at the "weird whims" of the police. "There's no difference after the new system was introduced. Just imagine our plight if it starts raining heavily," said Sarmistha Banerjee, mother of a Class III student of LMB.

The school authority, however, welcomed the system. "Police consulted us before introducing the new system. The idea is that no parking would be allowed during school hours on Rawdon Street. This should end the traffic chaos that we see in front of the school every afternoon. On Loudon Street, too, a special school car lane has been created to ease traffic movement. We wrote to our parents requesting them to comply with the new system and they have all co-operated. said, Sunirmal Chakraborty, principal, La Martiniere for Boys.

But bad habits die hard. On Monday, cars routinely halted near the gate of both the schools to pick up students. "We have been pleading with the school authority and parents that they should move ahead from the school gate. This would result in less chaos and allow faster dispersal," said the DC (traffic). Verma literally chased almost every car that halted near school gates.

"We have put up guard rails along the pavement to prevent children from walking on the carriageway. As cars for school children drive along the footpath, other vehicles -- including emergency services can pass down the middle lane," said Verma.

He admitted that the new system would face some teething problems. "Today, some vehicles parked on AJC Bose Road. But we won't allow any parking on AJC Bose Road. On Monday, police put up information boards with a message: "Do not stop, drop or pick up your child, move forward."

Another officer said how it was proving difficult to force schools near each other to change their timings. "If the dispersal hours are different, we can employ our forces at different points depending on which school was getting over. It would also be easier to control traffic," he said.

Police said the senior officers have already met the school authorities and guardians. "We will meet everyone again to drive our points home. Gradually, we would implement the new traffic rules in front of St James, Prat Memorial, Don Bosco, Mahadevi Birla, Modern High, Birla High Boys and Girls, St Xavier's and Loreto," said Verma.

Source: Krishnendu Bandopadhyay & Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey From TNN 17/Jun/08

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