Citizens' Traffic Forum's monthly meetings almost non-existent

 ‘Citizens’ Traffic Forum Meeting’, a monthly event organised by the Bengaluru Traffic Police every third Saturday of the month, exists only on paper.

Meetings between citizens and the traffic police personnel for addressing traffic related grievances and finding solutions to them was the brainchild of former Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M A Saleem and was followed diligently under his leadership.

When DH did a reality check on Saturday, it was evident that meetings weren’t held for a long time.
For instance, Peenya traffic police station wore a deserted look with hardly any citizens there. A constable said the sub-inspector who conducts the meeting was on leave. Yeshwantpur traffic police station too had no meeting.

But when they were asked about the meeting, a few constables looked at the calendar and immediately arranged tables and chairs and organised a meeting with a few autorickshaw and cab drivers who had come there for affixing display cards to their vehicles.

Malleswaram traffic police station was no different. A constable said senior officials were attending a meeting at the traffic management centre (TMC).

When several traffic police stations across the city were contacted, it was evident that these monthly meetings to ensure people friendly policing, were not happening.

Banaswadi traffic police said they would conduct the meeting next week while Ashoknagar traffic police said that they had conducted the meeting.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hithendra said he was unaware that meetings are not being held.

"It is good that we got to know that meetings are not happening. I will ensure that every police inspector is present for the citizens’ meeting henceforth at their respective police stations without fail and take a note of public grievances and find solutions,” he said.

An active resident of Basavanagudi said the meeting at his area’s traffic police station happens once in three to four months. “We try to attend these without fail, but many a time, meetings get cancelled due to one reason or the other,” said B S Manohar, vice president, Basavanagudi residents welfare association.