Kolkata: To offer respite to traffic constables from the scorching heat without compromising on road safety, Bidhannagar City Police have introduced new ‘recruits’ to its force — cardboard “cut-out” traffic cops.
The 2D constables begin their shifts this week, in a bid to deter speeding drivers and alert them about road diversions and accident-prone zones.The life-size cut-outs, wearing high-visibility clothing and reflective tapes for prominence at night, are being attached to guard rails and lamp posts across VIP Road.
“The move is meant to alert motorists as well as allow the traffic cops time for breathers under a shade during the off-peak hours. Keeping the roads safe for motorists is our prime responsibility. These cut-out cops are an additional tool we can use alongside our traditional methods. But they will in no way replace real officers at any point of time,” stressed a senior officer of Bidhannagar Commissionerate.
Currently eight such cut-outs have been put in service under the Airport traffic guard, each costing around Rs 6,000. Ten more have been ordered. Their numbers may be increased depending upon the response of the citizens, cops said.
“The prices are a bit on the higher side as of now but the moment bulk orders are placed, prices will come down,” said an officer.
Such life-size flat-pack cut-outs are frequently used in the UK, Scotland and USA as a crime-prevention measure. Recently, Bangalore police have also started using the same. But cops in Bidhannagar said this is the first time such an idea had been employed in eastern India.
“We know motorists will quickly realise that the cut-outs are not real officers but we hope when they are spotted, it will remind those drivers who regularly speed, to slow down. This is a relatively new initiative and we are keen to try it as a part of our general road safety and accident prevention work,” said the officer.
“It’s a good initiative. From a distance, the cut-out looks like a real cop and only when I got near, I realized that it was fake,” said Jayanta Sarkar, a motorist driving near the Airport gate no 1.