In an attempt to keep a check on heedless drivers and road rage cases, the idea of equipping policemen with button cameras rolled out recently went out of order in no time. Only a few traffic police cops deployed at major avenues now adorn this sophisticated gadget, especially designed to nab the offenders who often use to create ruckus on roads. Now even the traffic police constables do not show any enthusiasm, when they are enquired about the button cameras handed over to them a while ago. Introduced in much fan-fare to make the traffic constables tech-savvy ensuring both efficiency and safety of constables deployed at 41 traffic check posts, currently appears nowhere, not even at the major squares where the penetration of vehicles are much more in comparison to other routes.
The concept that has almost flopped can be realised with the remarks of some traffic police constables deputed at various traffic check posts. A traffic constable, deployed at Kutchery Chowk, requesting anonymity, said, “Kahan madam, yeh button camera ke bare mein pucch rhe hai, humko toh yaad bhi nahi hai isske bare mein (Madam you are asking about the button cameras, I do not even remember where I have actually kept it and have even forget about it).”
Conversely, though some extra conscious cops at Albert Ekka Chowk smartly tried to hide the lapse of traffic police department by putting the blame upon their subordinates. “We are using the button cameras and it has also helped us in dealing with the heedless drivers several times. Only few days back, I have been transferred from my traffic check post to Albert Ekka Chowk. In a while, I will get the camera from my subordinate who was deployed here,” said, ASI, Upendra Kumar. Earlier, few senior officials of the department had said that they have received the consignment of button cameras in sufficient number and will be enough for covering all the traffic check posts for the time being. However, when queried about the status and usage of button cameras, Traffic SP, Sanjay Ranjan Singh, said, “Due to some transfer posting issue, at the moment, button cameras are being utilised in limited numbers. Several ASIs have been transferred from one post to another. Moreover, some more time would be required to inculcate this habit of using the mini cameras during the duty hours among the cops.” Making surveillance more effectual, approximately 100 odd button size cameras were distributed among the traffic police constables to deliver their duties with buoyancy. Traffic SP Sanjay Ranjan Singh had mentioned that all the 100 button size cameras have been handed over to the constables.