Bhubaneswar: In spite of various awareness programmes the city’s vehicle drivers continue to flout rules with impunity according to police officials. Driving two-wheelers sans helmets is a very common ailment while pedestrians rarely use the zebra crossings to go from one side of the road to the other.
The roads had received a lookover during the Hockey World Cup which the city hosted last year. The zebra lines meant for pedestrians had also got a fresh coat of paint, but drivers care little about the sanctity of these lines. In almost all the zebra crossing, cars and two-wheelers encroach making the job difficult for pedestrians who want to cross. And in most cases traffic policemen turn mute spectators. These irregularities are a common occurrence at crowded places like Rupali Square, Unit VIII, Bhawani Mall Road, Janpath and Master Canteen.
The police department along with stars of odia film industry organised a programme recently to educate people about traffic rules. “We are trying to sensitise people that zebra lines are not for vehicles but for pedestrians,” said Anup Kanungo, ACP Traffic, Police Commissionerate.
PNN