Imagine a city of 15 lakh population supporting 3.16 lakh vehicles operating within the radius of 3 kilometres. It computes to almost every third man in the city of Jammu with a vehicle. What else but choked traffic will you find here? Yes, on the other side, it is an indicator of growing economy and rising standard of life. Nevertheless, what about the widening of roads, traffic signals, traffic rules, traffic control and driving discipline etc. which are the pre-requisites of a city with such enormous vehicular traffic? These are in a dismal and sad state of in-operation.
Short cuts and quick fixes to this problem are not a solution; they can be misleading. We need to address the problem in its entirety. That is to say (a) providing comprehensive traffic infrastructure to the city (b) practical implementation of traffic advisories (c) campaigning for driving and pedestrian culture (d) revolutionizing traffic control mechanism and traffic violation penalty, and (e) shift to more modern methods of transportation in capital cities. This is an ambitious list and may not be achieved in a short span of time. Nevertheless, undoubtedly it has to be the roadmap for the planners of traffic network in the city in years to come.
Widening of roads would be an ideal solution of traffic congestion but where is the money to meet enormous demands of compensation. Its partial remedy lies in removing encroachments on footpaths. Who will do that? The functionaries are hand in glove with the encroachers. Rickshaw hawkers are a nuisance and obstruction to smooth flow of traffic. Wrong and prohibited parking is a major cause of traffic jams. In most cases of traffic accidents, invariably resulting in knocking down the pedestrians or crushing them to death, it is found that the driver has no driving license or has a fake one. This happens with tacit connivance of the Government functionary in charge of the segment. Mini buses plying within the city premises are buzzing with music and songs mostly indecent and obscene. When the mini bus comes to a stop, which, however, can be anywhere and everywhere along the route, the driver increases the volume of his music system manifold to attract the commuters. Jammu drivers and even the commuters are insensitive to noise pollution. As far as the bus stops, Jammu is a city which can boast of not having a single bus stop on any main street. All the roads are a bus stop, every commuter’s signal is a bus stop and every driver’ fancy is a bus stop. We are talking of lane-driving. Very good idea, but where are the dividers, where is the dividing white line, where is the cycling or pedestrian yellow line, where are the zebra crossing lines, where is the speed, horn, school or hospital sign board, and where are no-overtaking sign boards. Lane driving pre-supposes all these requirements particularly a broad avenue and widened streets.
Let us admit frankly that Jammu city traffic has been brutally politicized. Most of its woes are because of politics that has seeped into every nerve of the various Government institutions. It is more than two decades that there is the talk of shifting the general bus stand just outside the peripheries of the main city to reduce traffic congestion. There is a strong lobby of vested interests stonewalling the project. The government succumbs to political pressures which, when honestly analysed, are only components of personal aggrandisement on the part of some interested politicians. Why is not mini bus connectivity rationalized? Why are not mini buses replaced by improved, more comfortable and more spacious buses with better seating capacity and leg space for the commuters? Why are not three wheeled cabs called Bikram thapthapi, and carrying about eight passengers introduced in the city? Why does not the traffic department think of the city having tramways? It is all because there are vested interests and because there is politicization of everything. City traffic is in the hands of few top business houses and they are unwilling to let others share the benefits. Who does not know that a nexus exists among stakeholders who oppose reforms in all aspects of Jammu city’s traffic services?
Traffic culture can be promoted or promulgated among the citizenry only when they find that the Government means business. When defaulters are actually brought to book, and given punishment according to rules, the traffic culture generates momentum. Accountability is the best means of imparting traffic education. Absence of accountability is the other name of corruption.
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