ALL the fears expressed through this campaign so far came true on Tuesday when two young lives were snuffed out in a mishap at Bhavsar Square, Central Avenue. A few hours before the accident, ‘The Hitavada’ had flagged the same spot as a danger zone where recklessness lorded over through indiscipline and brazen driving. Life, it seems, is no more considered a precious gift. At least the road sense exhibited in most parts of the city conveys this message.

 

 

The ‘Our Roads, Our Lives’ campaign, for the last fortnight, was a desperate attempt to make sense of the traffic situation that is spiralling out of control due to multiple reasons. Lack of traffic sense clearly takes the cake as was evident from the throng of photographs that accompanied the campaign reports.

 

Each stretch covered in the campaign threw up a hideous face of Nagpur’s traffic. Despite efforts of some organisations, despite the presence of some Good Samaritans, despite a law in place, despite the presence of police, it is the show of bravado by a major chunk of violators that shadows everything good on offer through nice, wide roads and improving facilities. Fear of law, too, has proved extremely ineffective.

 

Discipline and safety should form a part of culture. It is the basic expectation from a growing ‘Smart City’. On the contrary, there seems a growing attempt to change the entire culture, pushing towards a hazardous carelessness. Those who have felt the pinching pain of losing a dear one in accidents will grieve silently and watch with utter helplessness the mysterious urge for speed and adventurism by riders and drivers.

 

The authorities have accepted their part of failure in inculcating a good road sense. Their number is too small for a strict enforcement of traffic rules. Even in the present strength, certain callousness does take over while monitoring routine work. This relaxation acts as a major spur for traffic violators and a scary nuisance for the law-abiding minority on the roads.

 

Failure of the close-circuit cameras on various junctions as a deterrent for rule violators sums up the tale of traffic in the Second Capital.

 

The contempt for rules, traffic signals, and wise appeals for a safe road journey is alarming. Commuting on our roads is almost always on a prayer and hope -- hope of a respect for red signal, stopline, fellow riders, and own life.

Though we are bringing the campaign to a conclusion today, being a responsible newspaper ‘The Hitavada’ will continue to highlight the issue through reports and photographs. After a certain point in time things need to be left to the wisdom of people. It is the bounden duty of the entire city to bring in a major change in the situation. It is for each Nagpurian to be the difference the city seeks.