When rallies or protest programs throw vehicular traffic haywire, these people help the traffic policemen ease the jams. They are known as traffic volunteers, who selflessly engage in these works.[break]
In the Kathmandu valley, there are currently 25 traffic volunteers deployed by the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD). These traffic volunteers have identity cards issued by MTPD.
There are other volunteers as well. But, they have yet to receive identity cards from the MTPD. A person needs to serve for more than two years regularly to get identity cards from MTPD.
Traffic volunteers posing for a group photo at the Metropolitan Traffic Police Circle at Kalimati, in this recent photo.
In the capital city, these volunteers have really helped reduce the burden of MTPD staff. “These volunteers are really helpful for us,” says Pawan Giri, Spokesperson for the MTPD. "We need more such traffic volunteers."
According to Giri, some of the volunteers do not work regularly. "If they work regularly, we would be greatly relieved," adds Giri.
Ananda Joshy is one such volunteer. He is turning sixty soon. Despite having to spend much of his time in business, he takes out some time to volunteer on the streets. In the initial days his family was not happy about him volunteering to ease traffic jams but still persisted.
Joshy is often seen at Thapathali. Whenever he gets time off his business, he just joins traffic policewomen at Thapathali to help the motorists pass through one of the busiest intersections of the capital.
Sthaneswar Dhungana
“In Thapathali, there are only policewomen," says he. "People usually obey them.”
Joshy is also President of the Kathmandu Valley Integrated Traffic Volunteer Management, an informal organization of traffic volunteers. He believes a strong system is required to deter the motorists from violating traffic rules. "Those who violate traffic rules should be punished,” adds Joshy.
Like Joshy, Shirjan Regmi is another traffic volunteer. Every morning when he steps out of his Kalopul house and heads for Kalimati office on a bicycle he helps the traffic police clear traffic jams on roads. “At times, as I have to spend time in easing the traffic jams, I am often late for work,” says he.
According to him, road is one of the most important infrastructure that helps development of a country. This always inspired me to volunteer my service for the country. “When I understood the importance of roads for the development of a country I decided to be a traffic volunteer,” says Regmi.
He thinks people are yet to learn a simple fact: roads are for vehicles and footpaths for pedestrians. "In our city, even motorcycles run on footpaths and pedestrians walk the streets,” says he. “It also leads to traffic jams.”
“The government should manage street vendors by providing them with specific places to run their businesses," says Regmi. He believes street vendors are creating problems in traffic management as they occupy footpaths, which are for pedestrians.
Regmi, 33, is a senior assistant at Salt Trading Corporation Limited (STC). He says it is not easy to convince the common people to follow traffic rules and signals. "They do not even listen to the traffic police," says he. "How can we expect them to obey us? We are just civilians.”
“People often go mad at us when we ask them to follow traffic rules,” says he. “But, I would try to politely request them. I do not get angry myself. I do not get deterred by their anger, either.”
It has been two years since Sthaneswar Dhungana, who lives in a rented room in Baneshwar, started volunteering in Koteshwor. A government employee at the Bagmati zonal office of the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), Lalitpur, he usually spends his evening easing traffic jam in Baneshwar.
“Rise in the number of small vehicles like cars and motorbikes is worsening traffic problems in the capital,” shares Dhungana.
Dhungana was also awarded with National Environmental Conservation Prize by the Ministry of Environment (MoE) for his contribution to environment conservation two years ago.
Women volunteers say managing traffic a tough task
Managing traffic in the streets of Kathmandu is a tough task. Many people do not follow traffic rules and regulations. Even the traffic police alone can compel people to follow traffic rules and signals. Here comes the role of traffic volunteers. They are working selflessly to help the traffic police ease traffic jams.
And, among them, there are some female traffic volunteers, too.
Sushma Gurung is one such female traffic volunteer. She started to work as a volunteer some five years ago. Earlier, she found it tough to deal with motorists and pedestrians. "Now, I know how to deal with them,” says she. She is usually seen helping ease traffic jams in Baneshwar.
She believes a person should be bold and strong enough to handle wayward motorists and pedestrians on the roads. “Many of my friends gave up volunteering as it is a very difficult task," says she. "But, I am not like them.”
“Some people understand us," says she. "For some, we have to be very tough.”
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