Two masks each given for 350 cops in five Traffic Police Stations

Mysore:  In a bid to save Traffic Policemen on duty at Circles, junctions and on Roads from hazardous smoke emitted by vehicles and from air pollution, a new type of Respiratory Mask has been distributed to them.

Police Department has provided two Respiratory Masks for each of the 350 Traffic Police personnel working in five Traffic Police Stations in city. The new grey coloured mask will not get dirty soon and will cover the nose and mouth completely, thus protecting them from hazardous smoke.

Traffic Police, who work maximum time at Circles, junctions and on busy roads are prone to smoke emitted by vehicles leading to respiratory problems and hence the Police Department began providing such masks to these Cops since 1990.

Earlier, the masks were green in colour and the quality was not  up to the mark. As the Police personnel wearing these masks were looking like hospital staff, most of the Traffic Police personnel used to wear them around their neck.

Senior Police officials, who observed this, enquired the Police personnel, during which they (senior Police officials) came to know that the masks were not of good quality and was not serving the purpose. The senior officials immediately took action and provided them with new masks.

Meanwhile, retired Traffic ASI Nagaraj said that there was just a single traffic signal light post near Bata showroom on Sayyaji Rao Road; near Bombay Tiffanys in the middle of Devaraja Market; in front of Mysore Medical Hall and in front of Curzon Park Gate. He further said that during that time the population was less and the traffic was also less. There was no need for a Traffic Police in junctions too that time, he added.

As days went by, the population increased and so also the traffic leading to installation of Traffic Signal lights at Clock Tower, Dasappa Circle, Devaraj Urs Road and JLB Road junctions.

Later, signal lights were installed near Sanskrit Patashaale, on Sita Vilas junction, Siddappa Square, Ramaswamy Circle and MUDA Circle, he said and recalled that there was a time when the Traffic Police was limited to helmet drive and enforcement of traffic rules while traffic engineering was completely forgotten.

Nagaraj hopes that the good quality masks provided to the traffic cops could boost their efficiency of work.