Post News Network

footpaths to avoid traffic signals – in a purported bid to save a
little time – thereby causing immense harassment to commuters op photos
Bhubaneswar, Jan 3: Pedestrians are hassled every day due to several reasons and those who walk up and down the pathways at Jayadev Vihar know what it feels to be heckled all the time. The vehicles at the busy Jayadev Vihar square often encroach on the pedestrian pavements to avoid the traffic signals, in the purported bid to save a little time, thereby causing immense harassment to the commuters.
Commuters waiting to catch a bus, say, face real difficulties due to such rash negligence of the drivers.
Nihar, a commuter, said, “The roads have been widened lately yet auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers encroach on the footpaths. I have been very lucky on a couple of occasions to have avoided being hit by a bike.”
Another daily commuter Manisha who is in her early 50s said, “With age-related problems surfacing, we need a safer place to walk. The traffic and road safety rules are blatantly flouted by a majority of two-wheeler users and even auto drivers.”
Supriya, her friend, pointed out, “Every year we commemorate the World Remembrance Day for road accident victims and various drives on road safety are launched. However, there is lack of awareness among drivers in general. Changing the mindset of people is of utmost importance. If they don’t start thinking as responsible and sensible citizens, they should be forced into following a pattern of rules laid down by the police and the government.”
When asked, one traffic police personnel at Jaydev Vihar said that it was possible for an individual to look into all the problems. Due to the inadequate number of traffic personnel, he said, the commuters are facing a lot of problems as drivers refuse to mend their errant ways.