The public outcry for a more scientific traffic control system after every instance of interminable traffic block during a VIP visit points to the need for a judicious reconciliation of the right to movement with security considerations. The other day, during the visit of Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu in Kochi, traffic was held up. I am not putting the development under the scanner because I was not privy to what precisely happened. However, the world over, threat perceptions have changed drastically owing to extreme forms of terrorism that wreak catastrophe. The extent of security one has to comply with while at the airport to check in for a flight is the easiest example. Even Kochi Metro has layers of security. We can ignore such security and safety precautions only at our own peril. More so, during a VIP visit. It is the responsibility of the State to ensure the VIP’s safety.
All said and done, it is also the responsibility of the State to ensure the individual’s right to movement as guaranteed by the Constitution.
But it cannot be at the expense of security. On Kerala roads, it is near chaos, given the fact that the vehicle population has increased from 4o L to 120 L in the last 10 years. Which shows that the task of ensuring safe VIP passage along overcrowded roads has risen manifold. Virtually, the whole of Kerala is mobile!
There are four suggestions, which possibly would improve the situation:
1. The vehicular movement along the VIP route should be restricted to one direction. Vehicles in the opposite direction should be diverted along alternative routes. Do not allow parking along the VIP route. Vehicles left on roads should be removed and parked on respective premises. This will ease traffic and check any potential danger from a remotely-controlled explosive hidden in vehicles.
2. The traffic flows uninterrupted along the VIP route and vehicles need to be stopped for a mere two minutes once the warning car in the VIP convoy has passed a proximal point. The blocked traffic can resume soon and the VIP will have a buffer in the form of a long convoy trail.
3. There is sufficient technology in the form of jammers and other gadgets to prevent any security compromise when the VIP is preceded and trailed by public vehicles.
4. The US model is the best, as in the case of the President, the Secret Service is solely responsible for his safety. SS takes over the security all through the route, keeping local police involvement to assigned tasks We do not have such a mechanism in the country and hence thousands of police personnel are involved in the security. Often, inexperienced policemen, for abundant precaution, overdo.
They stop all traffic the moment warning car leaves the VIP premises! On other mundane traffic disruptions, often caused by rallies despite Court strictures, there is a socio-cultural angle. The right of passage along public roads used to be traditionally restricted to privileged classes. Now there is a reassertion of freedom by monopolising public roads. This calls for a mindset change. In developed countries passengers are not held to ransom even when major protests take place.
(The author is a former State police chief)
