Mysuru: The Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has expressed disappointment over the inaction of the Police Department and Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) in tackling traffic violations and clearing footpath encroachments across the city.  

The issues came up for discussion at the monthly MGP meeting held at its premises in Yadavagiri yesterday. 

Speaking at the meeting, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP-Traffic) M. Shivashankar said that unpaid traffic fines in the city had accumulated to Rs. 412 crore. In response, MGP Founder Bhamy V. Shenoy said that the organisation had, for over a decade, been urging the Police Department to outsource fine collection to a private agency for more efficient recovery. 

Shivashankar said that the Department had already written to higher authorities seeking approval from the State Government for such a proposal. 

Welcoming the move, Bhamy Shenoy said that MGP would support the initiative and exert pressure on the Government if required. He also suggested involving the public in reporting traffic violations through the ‘Public Eye’ app, a model that has reportedly yielded positive results in Goa. 

MGP President Roy Joseph assured the Police Department of the organisation’s cooperation in implementing the initiative. 

Shivashankar noted that despite the State Government offering a 50 percent rebate on traffic fines, many violators were yet to clear their pending dues. 

Change in public attitude 

Emphasising the need for a change in public attitude towards road safety, he said people in countries such as Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Thailand and Singapore generally adhere to traffic rules out of fear of penalties, whereas compliance remains a challenge in India. 

Later, Bhamy Shenoy urged Police Department and MCC to launch a joint drive to remove footpath encroachments on Sayyaji Rao Road, K.R. Circle, Kalidasa Road, Abhishek Circle in Vijayanagar 2nd Stage, Digantha Circle in Sharadadevinagar, Vivekananda Circle, Ramakrishnanagar Circle, Kanakadasanagar Circle, Mahadevapura Road, Agrahara Circle, Gandhi Square and other prominent locations to ensure safe movement of pedestrians. 

V.V. Puram Traffic Police Station Inspector Mamatha, SI Mohan, MCC Zone-4 Development Officer Satyamurthy, Junior Engineer Kavitha, MGP Working President S.K. Dinesh and other members attended the meeting.