Dreaded Cop with Poetic Heart

For a cop, it is easy to make common people fear the Khakhi for various reasons. However, it is difficult for a cop posted in a Naxalite area to stop illegal activities. For many posting in a Naxalite area is a punishment while there are some officers who left their mark in such difficult posting as well. Even after years of their transfer from Naxal affected areas, people in common and those who were rehabilitate still remember them for their good. On one such occasion, while travelling from Bhamragadh to Chandrapur, I stopped at a road side tea stall. Spotting a truck loaded with Bamboo sticks, I asked the chaiwala about its legality, to my shock the chaiwala knew that there is a SP who is good at heart but is very strict on illegal activities and no such truck load can pass to reach Ballarsha if it dare transport illegal goods. The chaiwala introduced me first to a young and dynamic Quaiser Khalid, then SP of the Naxal affected belt.

The next were a batch of religious preachers who re-introduced Khalid’s name praising his community policing and able implementation of communal harmony.

The third time I practically witnessed Khalid’s work. It is difficult to manage city’s vehicular traffic congestion of around 21 lakh vehicles everyday and keep the city roads smooth and going, these days we see hundreds of traffic wardens assisting traffic police in their daily work.

This IPS officer of the 1997 batch is a soft spoken man. If you meet him in Mumbai, you will fail to notice his dare-devilness which one would have otherwise noticed during his earlier postings. After being assigned the responsibility to manage city’s traffic as additional commissioner of police (Traffic) Mumbai, Quaiser Khalid is now managing to get as many citizen policemen as he can manage. Being a disciplined officer himself Khalid is engaged in bringing in discipline among traffic policemen.

This IPS officer is an aspiring singer, keen to listen quawwali, has a poetic heart and wears a smile whenever you meet. In a recent interview with Mumbai Headlines Correspondent Yash Mishra, Khalid spooked about his past, present and future plans, excerpts:

What is operation ‘Eagle’ will it help improve traffic?

Operation Eagle is a check operation to keep a vigil on those who violate Traffic rules. We ask our volunteers to stand at a distance from traffic signals and observe how many commuters violate traffic rules, crossing the stop line, driving through the wrong side, cutting lanes and jumping signals are monitored and action is been taken.

Even during operation Eagle, traffic-men are visible so do people still dare to violate rules?

We ensure visibility of traffic cops at traffic prone points to avoid traffic clogging. As none dare to break rules when a policemen is visible much of our problems are solved before it takes place.

Then how do you manage to prosecute people during special checks?

It is sad part that even after regular vigil and prosecution people still drink and drive. People need to be educated on the menace of accidents due to drunken-driving. Rules are made for good and for the benefit of all. Rules or disciplinary action is not for harassing or annoying people it is for the simple reason of hammering one’s head to learn and remember traffic rules. With better training to the cops and people and infrastructure in-terms of raincoats, gumboots,radium uniforms and such basic amenities things could be solved.

Any plans to tackle traffic congestion's at sensitive points?

Yes, we have provided megaphones to traffic cops during need at busy streets our policemen can announce and give direction to citizens. We are also working on implementing an automated system in collaboration with BMC which will recognize a number plate of a vehicle. It will be used to enforce rules and monitor violators.

What are your plans for parking problems?

Due to limited road length and a pool of 21,00000 vehicle plus, each day, and more than 400 registration coming up added with the disadvantage of limited parking space in the city it is necessary to ensure proper roads, infrastructure and modern elevated parking place. The problem can be minimized if people opt to public transport.

It is often seen that WPC of traffic face difficulty in changing dress and attending nature’s call, is there any plan in pipeline?

Yes. We are planning to improve the infrastructure of traffic chokies as there are many women traffic cops.Changing rooms and wash-rooms will be incorporated soon. We are also planning to relocate some police station (traffic) which will be shifted to a better place. We are also coming up with the improvement in coordination system or sharing of information during emergencies, to share information related to traffic we are collaborating with traffline an NGO and also an application which shows an easy way to avoid traffic prone zones during peak hours.

What are the heinous crimes traffic department faces as challenge?

We lose around 450 people to rash driving every year. Many among the deceased people are the lone bread-earners of their respective families, it is sad. Those who feel thrill for rash driving should realize the intensity of their thrill, mere prosecution along cannot handle the problem.

What is your experience so far while managing city’s traffic?

It is very difficult task and a challenge too. It is not only the number of vehicles which is a worry, managing a smooth and free flow during peak hours is our prime concern. Managing traffic flow from Dahisar towards South in the west, Mulund to South Mumbai in the Central and Chembur to South Mumbai in the east and vice-a-versae in the evening is our routine. Added to it is the most congested Chembur-Andheri route. But that is what for which we are known for.

What elements are your arms and guns?

My seniors are my brain boosters and my subordinates are my arms and guns. New joinees who are well educated act catalyst as their grasping power is much high. When they are guided by their expert seniors they manage things well. On field we are working on the lines ‘the age should think and the young should do’ that is the formula of our success. In addition, we have started ‘cop of the month’ scheme in which we select 25 best performing traffic cops and award them. Apart from this we also have an advisory committee where people come and mark their suggestions to improve in the performance, these inputs have resulted positively.

You don’t seem to what you were in Gadchiroli? Any specific reason?

Laughs… Different assignments have different roles to play. Here we need to deal in a polite way as people are much sensitive and know things on their own. In Gadchiroli things were different and needed to be dealt strictly to establish control. It is a skill of managing things according to available resources.

Would you like to spread some message?

Yes. When we travel to a foreign country we look in to personally obeying the law of that land, why do we take our laws casual? Don’t we love our nation or don’t we feel pride being citizen of the democratic republic of India. We all should collectively take efforts to bring ourselves in discipline

 voluntarily.