BJP MLA Suresh Kumar Volunteers as Traffic Cop in Bengaluru's Innovative Citizen Initiative

Senior BJP MLA Suresh Kumar at the Bhashyam Circle in Rajajinagar

Bengaluru:

Senior BJP MLA Suresh Kumar stepped into the shoes of a traffic police constable, managing peak hour traffic for two hours in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

"Following traffic rules is a matter of fundamental duty; when right is replaced by duty, every resident can contribute to minimise the traffic jam," Kumar explained to NDTV after his stint managing traffic at Bengaluru's Bashyam Circle in Rajajinagar.

The former education minister participated in "Traffic Cop for a Day," an innovative program launched by the Bengaluru Traffic Police. This initiative allows citizens to volunteer in traffic management and provide suggestions to reduce congestion. Volunteers can work alongside officers by registering through the BTP ASTraM app.

Kumar shared his experience on Facebook, stating, "I gained immense experience by working as a traffic police constable for a day, and I enjoyed this work. This initiative by the Bengaluru Traffic Police is truly welcome. The experience of controlling traffic during the peak hour at Bhashyam Circle in Rajajinagar this morning was unforgettable."

He also posted a video showing himself wearing a traffic police jacket while working with other police personnel, managing traffic flow, interacting with officers, operating the signal control post, and addressing traffic rule violations at the junction.

"Today in a way is a festive atmosphere for me. We celebrate and participate in various festivals and events, but the experience I gained as traffic police personnel is unique, as I personally got to know the way the commuters follow or react to the traffic rules and how they respond when an effort is made to make them understand the rules," Kumar remarked in his video post.

The MLA mentioned he had been planning to manage traffic manually at the busy Chalukya circle near Vidhana Soudha for some time. "I have managed traffic at Modi junction and Navarang circle on various occasions, like during rains and traffic jams. When I saw the Bengaluru traffic police's announcement on social media that any citizen can become a traffic police for a day, I enrolled myself."

Kumar noted that his two-hour experience from 9 am to 11 am on Tuesday provided valuable insight into the challenges faced by traffic constables. He expressed gratitude to the traffic police for this initiative and opportunity.

"I have told the traffic police that he will be with them for an hour every Monday to support and help them in managing or controlling the traffic. It's a good experience in life," he added.

(With inputs from Deepak Bopanna and PTI)