Hyderabad traffic police to utilise NSS volunteers for traffic management
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad traffic police and the National Service Scheme (N.S.S) on Monday announced the utilisation of the services of NSS volunteers for traffic regulation and to spread awareness on road safety among the citizens of Hyderabad city.
The decision had already been made to harness the services of NSS Volunteers in three pivotal areas: Traffic Management, Safety of Girl Child, and Awareness against Spy Cameras in business establishments. These initiatives are vital steps toward building a safer and better-informed community.
In the first phase, 300 NSS volunteers will receive training on Traffic Regulation and Education at the Traffic Training Institute, Goshamahal, by the Hyderabad Traffic Police. Each batch will consist of 100 NSS volunteers who will be trained on traffic rules, safety measures, traffic drills, and practical training at junctions.
Nature of services rendered/utilised:
The services of NSS Volunteers will be utilized at major junctions, Pelican Signals, Bus Bays, FOBs, etc., with emphasis on traffic regulation and spreading awareness on road safety. They will focus mainly on:
– Maintaining the Stop line and Free left at junctions.
– Assisting pedestrians in crossing roads at junctions and Pelican signals.
– Educating pedestrians to use FOBs (Foot Over Bridges).
– Guiding passengers to stay within bus shelters for hassle-free movement of buses at Bus Bays.
– Sensitising motorists to wear helmets, fasten seatbelts, avoid triple riding, jumping signals, wrong route driving, etc.
P. Viswaprasad, Addl. CP Traffic, addressed the gathering, highlighting that India contributes 11 percent of global road accidents despite having only 1 percent of the vehicle population and 2 percent of the road network which highlights the magnitude of the traffic problem. In Hyderabad city alone, 15,000 challans are issued daily for traffic violations, but deterrence remains ineffective. Therefore, raising awareness and sensitising the public is crucial.
Burra Venkatesham Principal Secretary of Education Dept., Telangana, and State Incharge of NSS, Telangana, expressed satisfaction that NSS volunteers are pioneering community service. He welcomed NSS volunteers’ involvement in community policing, working with the police to raise traffic awareness during peak hours in the morning and evening. He also envisioned future collaboration among students, NSS volunteers, Bharat Scouts and Guides, and Red Cross Society members with the police for enhanced community policing and safety in the city. He emphasized the responsible role of all 30,000 NSS volunteers of Hyderabad City in community policing.
Telangana DGP Ravi Gupta emphasised the importance of the day dedicated to traffic issues affecting everyone. He highlighted that NSS volunteers attending traffic training will also train their college peers, thereby spreading awareness and discipline among commuters.
K. Sreenivasa Reddy, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City, pointed out that the city boasts 30,000 NSS volunteers, including 20,000 girls and 10,000 boys ranging from intermediate to PG levels. He urged motorists to adhere to lane discipline and behave responsibly on the roads by avoiding speeding, overloading, triple riding, cellphone use while driving, riding without a helmet, drunken driving, and racing.
He noted that Hyderabad traffic police is operating under all climatic conditions, working closely with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to mitigate water logging and ensure smooth traffic flow. He advised establishments to allocate 40 percent of their space for parking and construct vertical parking lots for customers. He encouraged NSS volunteers undergoing traffic training to impart their knowledge to fellow students, parents, relatives, and neighbors to foster positive behavioral changes on the road.
The program was attended by Ravi Gupta, Director General of Police; Burra Venkatesham, Principal Secretary of Education, Telangana; and K. Sreenivasa Reddy, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City.
