Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Apr 11: This is Chandrashekharaiah, functioning as police sub-inspector of the traffic police station here. By his sheer will power, people-friendly approach and conern, he has risen to become one of the most popular police officers not only in the town but also in the entire Dakshina Kannada district.

Chandrashekharaiah has shown to the world that every officer has enough opportunity to undertake people-centric initiatives, only if he is driven by will power. This is the success story of Chandrashekharaiaha, who belongs to a rare breed of officers who are amenable, sincere, and willing to serve people.

In spite of the fact that he is attached to traffic department, Chandrashekharaiah has ventured into areas which are expected to be handled by the local municipality, national highways authority, and other departments like clearance of encorachments in the form of petty shops, road widening, and taking upon himself and succeeding in getting asphalting work of roads done.

Since the last some decades, the town was known as a hub of traffic jams. The problem had worsened after a fly over was constructed. Density of traffic and unending chaos got worsened whenever any programme or meeting were scheduled in the town. Innumerable pot holes on the highway in the town and narrow service roads, and the circle which was inadequate for handling traffic moving in and out of five roads which connect the highway had made the traffic a messy affair. Now a lasting solution has been found to all these problems, thanks to Chandrashekharaiah.

How it was done: After taking charge as the station house officer of the traffic station here, Chandrashekharaiah initially concentrated on closing of potholes. Later, he cleared unauthorized shops which has encroached public land at Melkar, causing traffic snarls there. When he took interest for widening the road at Melkar, the entire Melkar town backed him. After the road widening, Melkar, which was witnessing worst forms of traffic blocks, is now free of this problem.

Chandrashekharaiah also took lead to clear unauthoirzed shops which were located near the B C Road circle. He got the road widened by scraping off roadside hillocks with JCB near Narahari Parvatha between B C Road and Kalladka on national highway where accidents and traffic jams had become a common phenomenon. Here too the problem has been solved. After that, he brought pressure on the department of highways an ensured that the widened road near B C Road circle is asphalted.

Because of initiatives and leadership undertaken by Chandrashekharaiah, the B C Road - Melkar stretch of the highway is free of traffic blocks. If the policemen can effectively handle the issues of road widening at Penamangalore and the lining up of buses on highway at B C Road, B C Road can turn into a more comfortable place in the coming days.

If grant from the government was to be brought for all these purposes, in addition to delay, lacs of rupees of public money would have been spent for them. But Chandrashekharaiah got road widening work out of his will power, and with the largesse of JCB and tipper owners and by bringing pressure on the concerned departments through people in key positions. He knew that it would be a long wait if government funds were to be sanctioned. When he took initiatives, local municipality, highways authority, and others lent support, as a result of which the region has benefitted immensely.

Several organizations including Rotary Club here have recognized the selfless services rendered by this police officer, and felicitated him for his work. Chandrashekharaiah notes that works on the model of B C Road, Melkar, and Narahari Nagar need to be undertaken at Panemangalore, and for finding a permanent solution, support and cooperation of public would be necessary. Local municipal president, Ramakrishna Alva, too has profusely praised Chandrashekharaiah for serving the people through initiatives like road widening, clearance of unauthorized shops etc.