The Road Side Movers and Shakers

We do not know who initially invented the wheel. But we do know about the constant struggle to make the roads on which they move more smooth, more safe. The most talked about initiative in recent times is the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), a public transportation system using buses to provide faster, more efficient service to passengers.

So far BRTS has been implemented in the country’s capital, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. In other cities like Bhopal, Indore, Jaipur, Surat, Rajkot, Vijaywada and Vishakapatnam proposals for BRTS have been approved and the projects are on the anvil. Delhi inaugurated it’s BRTS in April 2008. The capital’s trans - portation system is mainly road based which makes road space a precious resource. Although sixty per cent of the city’s trans - portation is carried out by buses private vehicles are increasing and occupy most of the city’s road space. To reduce travel time by public transport BRTS provides a separate corridor for buses.
 

Sunita Khowal Traffic Marshal at Sheikh Sarai Crossing Age: 28 years

Two and a half years have gone by. How has the BRTS fared? We decided to find out and take stock. Instead of interviewing the road planners or the policy makers we spoke to the men at work. The “Traffic Marshals” who are the real operators of the BRTS.

Sunita Khowal Traffic Marshal at Sheikh Sarai Crossing Age: 28 years “I have been working with BRTS for five months. My major responsibility is to help pedestrians, mostly women and older citizens to cross the roads safely at the signals. I am proud that I work as a Marshal for BRTS. Being a woman I am glad to make such an important contribution to the society and make also a living out of it. All traffic Marshals earn approximately Rs 5000 per month. There is a woman at each crossing and we have two shifts: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Tinku Traffic Marshal at Sheikh Sarai Crossing Age: 18 years

In previous years there were lots of accidents with pedestrians. Now that we are working here accidents involving pedestrians have become very rare. I strongly feel that the foot bridges also do a great job making Delhi’s roads safe for those who walk.”

“It’s been one and a half years that I am working for BRTS as a Marshal. Till date I feel that controlling the bikers is the greatest challenge. The major issue with them is that they don’t follow their own lanes and many times jump the red lights.

Though we make efforts to stop them it is sometimes too late. We recently lost one of our colleagues due to this. She was hit by a motor cycle while sweeping the road. We have to be very careful.”

Rajesh Thakore Supervisor Chirag Delhi Crossing Age: 40 years

“I have been serving as a supervisor for four years. We have a very hectic schedule here. Apart from managing the traffic we also have to note the numbers of vehicles violating traffic rules. That gives us some power. In the evening information is passed on to the traffic police. But sometimes the papers get lost and then no action is taken against these violators. To have evidences CCTV is fixed on all the signals.

The benefits of BRTS? I assure you there are many: Public transportation has become faster because of dedicated bus lanes. And if you are old the traffic marshals help you to cross the road or bring you to a bus stand. On the pavements there are even dedicated paths for blind people. I think the major problem here is the increased number of cars and two wheelers in the city. That leads to traffic jams and spillovers of bikes and cars into the bus and cycle lanes.”

Ajanta Sikdar
Max Friedrich