Arunachal Pradesh home minister Bamang Felix on Saturday said easing the traffic conjestion in the Capital Complex would only be productive if the settlers also change their mindset and think of the problem as their own.
He also said that the state government, police and the department concerned has been trying their best to figure out ways to curb traffic congestion in the Capital Complex.
“The issue of traffic congestion which has been haunting the Capital Complex dwellers is created by all of us in a way or the other and the onus to fix this problem lies upon us as well,” he said.
“If only we keep on reminding ourselves that we will not bother anyone else while we are driving, we are indirectly following traffic rules,” he added.
“When we follow traffic rules, traffic congestion automatically goes down,” Felix further said.
The minister was addressing the fifth Road Safety and Traffic Rule Awareness Programme organized by the All Arunachal Pradesh Public Transport Federation (AAPPTF) at Ganga Market in Itanagar.
Felix said that people normally have a habit of blaming each other for every problem and that mindset too has to change in order to create a condusive environment in the Capital Complex.
“Instead of saying ‘you’ are responsible all the time, let us start saying ‘we’ can fix this. Let us all follow the basic traffic rules, park out vehicles properly and drive safely,” the minister said.
He said that everyone right from the chief minister to the person who drives an auto or tempo for a living is a ‘driver’ in one way or the other.
“We all have responsibilities. The chief minister being in the driver’s seat in the State has to meet the expectations of his people and bring overall development,” he said.
“I being the driver of the Home department have to make sure that law and order is maintained. Likewise, a tempo, trekker or bus driver has the responsibility to make sure that his passengers reach their destinations safely,” said Felix.
Speaking on the Chandranagar to Pappu Nallah Trans Arunachal Highway, the minister informed that chief minister Pema Khandu has already convened a meeting with the people, department and construction agency concerned and work along the road would begin on full swing as soon as the monsoon is over.
Also to encourage the transport federation members to obey traffic rules, the home minister announced an award of Rs 10 lakh for the public transport union which has the least number (the maximum being 100) of traffic violations.
The award, Felix said would be handed over to the Union when the next road safety and traffic rule awareness programme takes place in December and directed the capital superintendent of police to form a committee to monitor the same.
Speaking as guest of honor, Arunachal Pradesh Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board chairman Jalley Sonam said the public has to extend their cooperation to the government and administration to achieve better results in all spheres.