Wouldn't PRAJA have been a better option for BTP?

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Written By murali772 - 12 June, 2011

Traffic Bangalore Media Reports Transportation Enforcement governance citizen engagement

The Facebook page of the traffic police, set up two months ago, is a much-needed forum for Bangaloreans to bring the violator in uniform to book. More than 3,000 have already joined the page to share information and make evidence public. Many others are adding their comments.

Said Mr Praveen Sood, Addl Commr, Traffic: “As much as police appreciate people bringing to notice their own men throwing the rules to the winds, don’t make it a grievance cell. We want this page to turn into a forum to share ideas to make traffic in the city better.” He said the forum should have discussions on various factors of the city traffic scenario, so that people know there are multiple aspects to most of the issues. “It is not just listening to people, we want people to listen to us as well. There are many ideas and concepts we want to convey to the people, and achieve that via Facebook,” said Sood.


For the full report in the ToI, click here.

Now, I would have liked to think that "praja.in" provided a far more suitable platform for "discussions on various factors of the city traffic scenario" than the 'facebook' provided (of course, with my limited understanding of facebook, which I have started using only after BTP came on to it), and it has been on the scene from far longer, and Mr Sood knows about it too. And, it is seeing these strengths in praja.in that Mr Manivannan, IAS, has been coming on to it from long, and had eventually even gone on to suggest that it could become the platform for the debates of the city/ state's upper house. So, Mr Sood's opting for facebook instead of praja.in is something that Prajagalu need to give thought to, if we are to pursue the goal set for us by Mr Manivannan.

Well, whatever, Mr Sood's bringing the BTP onto an interactive public platform is certainly to be appreciated.

Muralidhar Rao

COMMENTS


 

Mr. Sood and many IPS officers are an exception because of their higher breeding. It is not a surprise that Mr. Sood has brought the “violator in Uniform” to the face book. As it is, anybody can post in Praja what they do on face book, too. Mr. Sood may perhaps decide to be on Praja if he sees any benefit.

 Murali Sir,

I agree, here at Praja, we have wonderful suggestions to the government authorities to act upon, but the question is - from the govt authorities How many read it? How many think about implementing about it? How many even think good-bad about it? How many give any weightage about it? And that's where Facebook comes into picture. Its more connected to youth, from all the areas of Bangalore, many people can post violations pictures not loosing their cool icons. And BTP at the other end get to have a reality check to what's going on roads, And then media helping further to check these statistics and news from the facebook page and publishing in the newspapers. The final result is - more and more people posting violations snaps, BTP taking action by ticketing them, and a general awareness is spread among tech-savvy people about road-safety, RTO rules, ownership-transfer rules, number plate rules et etc.

In reality, many educated and tech savvy people are also not aware of many rules etc on the roads, and BTP page on facebook serves a good medium there.

Plus, a good medium of communication between we and BTP or Mr. Sood itself.

Deepak

You can rationalise There is

idontspam - 30 July, 2011 - 18:06

You can rationalise

There is a danger in rationalizating & sympathizing. It leads us to bypass right things for "convinient" things. When numbers in currency can be understood why not on license plates? License plate is the wrong place to display love for the language, it has been clarified multiple times that one can have an additional plate in local language as long as the 2 primary ones are in English

Nice to confirm my suspicions about kannada only number plates being used for illegalities.

I have written several letters to the governor, transport commissioner, chief minister in this

regard. Bhasha abhimaana -love of the language- cannot condone violation of CMV.

Anyone be it politician or policeman condoning it is an accomplice in crime. Most of the time these fellows using kannada plates especially autodrivers are goondas, rude, obnoxious,cheats and criminals. My family avoids using kannada number plate autos. KDA chairman chandru should note. Almost all wheelie drivers who kill maim themselves and others also sport kannada number plates.

The other menace is reflecting italics, microscopic impossible to read defective plates.

Now I have seen even kannada script in italics, demonic style- like dripping blood!.

Cell phone driving, smoking while driving, multiple riding on 2 wheelers, wheelies, failure to yield, jumping redlights etc all moving violations should be additionally penalized may be to the extent of 1000 or 2000 per violation as RECKLESS PUBLIC ENDANGERMENT.

I have seen four children and 2 parents riding on one motorcylce.
In any civilized country the penalty would be for reckeless endangerment of a minor child.

Incidentally minor child is any one upto the age of 18 and considered to be  under guardianship.

So underaged driving and riding with minor children would be severely penalized.

In a recent case a parent who allowed a 12 year old to drive his SUV because he had consumed wine, had his license suspended besides fines.

Without additional penalty the meagre 100, 200 rupees fine is no deterrent.

Love for mother tongue is the manifestation of peoples love for their near and dear. However the same need not be mixed up with living in harmony with the society at large. The linguistic division of our country is proving to be the spoil sport.

It would be nice if the police immediately rectify the Cheeta motor bike number plate compliant with MV act of Karnataka, irrespective of obvious compulsions.


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