By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Sept. 8: Denizens in the Kathmandu Valley these days see the dummy of traffic policeman standing at different junctions, holding a placard with messages of different traffic rules. Many Kathmanduites staying indoors because of the prohibition order imposed by the government get confused with the dummy as real policeman when they see it first.
The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) has erected 22 dummy traffic police from last Tuesday as part of its public awareness campaign, said spokesperson for the MTDP Rameshwor Yadav.
Busy crossings like New Baneshwor, Jadibuti, Tinkune, Maitighar, Singha Durbar, Baluwatar, Kamaladi, Lainchaur and Bhotahity have the dummies all day and night to make people aware of the traffic rules.
The dummies were installed as part of a street education programme, spokesperson Yadav said. Besides reminding the passersby of the traffic rules, these dummies also hold a warning about the fine from Rs. 500 to Rs. 10,000 in case of violation of traffic rules.
Spokesperson Yadav said the drivers automatically become aware of their speed and rule violations once they see the traffic police standing nearby the turnings of the street.
"This concept was developed by the MTDM in collaboration with Kathmandu Metropolitan City,” he said.
The MTDP is planning to install such dummies in 50 other places of the valley.
Spokesperson Yadav said, “Even though we have limited human resources, such dummies remind the riders that they are being watched and alerted by the traffic police all the time.”