Traffic police kiosks in city set for a plush makeover

In a bid to cushion the stress of managing Bengaluru’s infamous traffic snarls, the BBMP plans to transform the existing open and often dilapidated traffic police kiosks into swanky, air-filtered ones.

The makeover will be a result of a project thought out by the traffic police and the BBMP as they believe the existing traffic police kiosks are in a bad condition.

The new design will include a thickened glass façade for the kiosk, seating arrangement for the cop and a fan. The kiosk will have a solar panel above to generate green energy. The traffic cops will receive masks and first aid kits. These kiosks will also be fitted with CCTV cameras and an emergency traffic announcement system with loudspeakers.

“The traffic police have identified about 200 kiosks in the city for the redesign. We have already called tenders to revamp them,” BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said on Friday. “The air filter is a conscious addition to the structures so that it can purify the air and help the cop’s health to an extent,” he said.

Meanwhile, R Hithendra, additional commissioner of police (traffic), said: “Most kiosks in the city are in a bad condition and require renovation. The BBMP is doing it. We have requested a redesign of all the kiosks in the city.”

A traffic cop welcomed the move and said it was much needed, especially during summer and rains.

Project draws flak

Critics of the project, however, believe the project is just another gimmick to mint money as it is based on a public-private-partnership (PPP) model involves the scope for private companies to put up advertisements. “The civic body will be designing the kiosks through the PPP model,” said Prasad.

The initiative has drawn a mixed response from both traffic cops and the public. Interestingly, a senior traffic cop who did not wish to be named questioned if the project will do more harm than good. “It is desirable to have a swanky kiosk during a hot day. But once they (cops) get accustomed to it, they might not come out and work. Their visibility on the road is critical to maintaining traffic in a city like Bengaluru. Considering all this, it is questionable whether the project is required,” he said.

Citizens claim the project is solely piloted to create advertisement spaces. “Just the way they monetise the skywalks, by putting up ads and receive revenue out of it, this is also a project designed to make a lot of money,” said Praneeth K Sargur, a resident of Hombegowda Nagar.