Whistle, mike is all traffic cop has to sort out corridor mess

NEW DELHI: With a hand up in the air, a motley juggernaut of cars, bikes, autos, cycles and handcarts on the busy Chirag Dilli crossing comes to a halt. Heads turn expectantly towards the hand for the go signal. In minutes, another wave of hand, and the traffic is snaking furiously ahead.
In a city aspiring to new standards of traffic infrastructure, the traffic marshal has become commander of Delhi's hectic and exasperating road activity.Equipped with just a humble whistle, and if lucky, a hand-held loudspeaker, the marshal is ubiquitous, though not quite king. Times City surveys this new class of rule enforcers, their lives and whether they suit the needs of Delhi���s urban traffic.
Time was when state-trained Delhi Traffic Police was the city���s common interface with enforcement of traffic rules.
With power to challan and prosecute, the traffic cop in white and blue uniform has always been dreaded. Corrupt they might be, but few can be doubted on their knowledge of traffic rules. But the marshal, today���s new traffic cop, is a different beast.
Hired by a range of different agencies like Trig, ARC, STS and Scorpion, these marshals lack training, camaraderie and affiliation of a unified command agency that state traffic police affords. As contract workers put on ad hoc jobs, the marshals vary in their personal and skill profile.
"I was trained in a camp for 15 days and then asked to work here. I get paid Rs 3500 per month, but that is very less for the long strenuous hours we put in. If you can write something that will help increase our pay it would be very helpful," says Ratan Singh (name changed), a marshal who stands under the Chirag Dilli flyover signaling pedestrians and vehicles on the controversial BRT corridor. Hailing from Baghpat, near Meerut, Ratan came to Delhi a month-and-a-half back, leaving behind his land there, which he cultivated as a farmer.
Everyday Ratan Singh does his 12-hour job with sincerity, but ask him about traffic rules and his answers become hesitant. Since he works in a different agency than others and joined the system only a few weeks back he remains alienated. "I have just come to the city and dont know from where others come from," adds Ratan Singh.
Raj Kumar, from Seelampur, another marshal who mans a bus stand near Chirag Dilli answers similarly. "I���ve been on this job for last 12 to 13 days. After twelve hours of work everyday there is no satisfaction, he says dusting his roti that he eats hunched on a cemented parapet under a scorching afternoon sun. If things continue like this, I will leave the job soon," he adds despondently.
In stark contrast to Ratan and Raj Kumar are Sanjay Biswas and Gangaram. Biswas, from faraway Kolkata, works as a supervisor at the Chirag Dilli intersection. Though only four days into his job, his position and background reflect his confidence. "I work closely on the ground, but have to monitor other lower staff," says 24-year-old, Biswas running between zebra crossings. His subordinates, even older ones, very obviously turn to him for support and encouragement when work gets difficult.
Fifty-one-year-old Gangaram, originally hails from Rajasthan, but now a Delhi man, he resides in Madangir. "I have no training in traffic rules, but have studied till higher secondary, so I have enough knowledge to deal with traffic," informs Gangaram. In work, Gangaram strictly maintains politeness.
"Commuters do get angry, but I am only trying to direct them for their good. Sometimes they abuse, but I stick to polite behaviour, which makes the angriest commuter relent. The work at Rs 4500 in this heat might not be great, but I feel satisfied knowing I could be of some help," says Gangaram. Lacking the fiery arrogance of a traffic cop, the marshal often displays an unusual kindness. Whether it is patiently leading blind pedestrians walk the zebra crossing or asking a confused commuter where he wants to go, the marshal is almost like a good samaritan. Says Sanjay Biswas, "You never know but a commuter may be an outsider and probably needs help. It becomes our duty as marshals to be available at that time."
paulomi.mehta@timesgroup.com