Udupi: Ever wondered what it takes to manage traffic at a busy junction? The Kundapur traffic police are giving citizens an opportunity to find out through their ‘Traffic Cop for a Day’ initiative.Kundapur traffic police station PSI Anoop Nayak is leading the initiative, launched under the guidance of SP Hariram Shankar and with the support of the Udupi district police. The programme was introduced after the Bengaluru City traffic police recently launched a similar initiative.Nayak said the Kundapur police had drawn up clear guidelines for the programme, which forms part of their community-policing efforts. People aged 18 and above have been invited to volunteer for a day and gain first-hand experience in traffic management and road-safety enforcement.Participants will undergo about an hour of training by senior officials before being deployed at busy junctions. They will be introduced to traffic duties and terms like road rage and golden hour, besides being briefed on traffic rules and laws. The volunteers will then accompany traffic police personnel for four to five hours at locations including Shastri Circle, Sangam Junction and the Koteshwara-Haladi junction, PSI explained.“These volunteers can become change-makers, and guide motorists and pedestrians at busy points,” Nayak said.The volunteers will function only as traffic-awareness and assistance personnel. They will not be authorised to issue challans, impose fines or collect penalties. Registrations will remain open until Sept 18. So far, around 80 people have registered. Details like employment (student or working) and preferred time slot have been sought through the form. Those interested can contact Kundapur traffic police on 9480805469 or register by scanning the QR code issued by the department.After registrations close, the police will consult volunteers about their preferred timings and finalise the schedule. Feedback will be collected from participants after they complete the programme and will be used to assess the initiative and identify ways to improve the traffic-management system.The traffic police have urged eligible citizens to participate in the programme and contribute towards the efforts to improve road discipline, traffic management and safety in Kundapur.
