Working in monsoon was never as easy for traffic constables as it has become this year. The perennial phenomenon that used to bring similar constraints for the men in uniform in discharging their duties is no more there in their way of effectively managing traffic on city’s streets.
The city traffic police have received about 500 raincoats to protect traffic constables from top to bottom. The white colour raincoats have been provided to almost all constables except about 40 constables who have been deputed in Shravani Mela at Deoghar.
“The raincoats were provided by the State police headquarters. I don’t know whether they have been given raincoats earlier or not but in my tenure this is the first time that they have been given this protective gear,” said Traffic SP RR Singh.
The raincoats— a pair of trouser and shirt—have been welcomed by traffic constables but not without reservations. Standing in a deluge sometimes for hours in almost12-hours of duty everyday is not comfortable for constables because of the design of the waterproof clothes that traffic constables believe should have tad better in design.
“It has brought relief to a great extent but the raincoat is not suitable for standing under showers for long as water seeps in making wet inside which makes us more uncomfortable. A long overcoat would have been better in giving protection all day,” said a traffic constable posted at lPN Sahdeo Chowk.
Traffic police officials, however, deem that the lightweight design is good for them to perform their duty compared to the bulkier long overcoat type of raincoat. “A long overcoat will be bulkier. However, we will think about it,” Singh mused.
The city traffic police are indeed more ubiquitous on the streets this year during monsoon and summer than previous years. Traffic constables who earlier had to bear with the scorching sun and often made immobile due to VIP movements have also been equipped with umbrellas that come to their rescue even during rainy season especially those who cannot fit in the size of raincoat provided by police HQ. The raincoats have been provided in two sizes–Xl (extra large) and XXl (double extra large).
“I stand 7 feet 6-inches so the raincoat doesn’t fit me. This umbrella is the only protection for me in rain. People like me often miss the attention of senior officials,” said another constable at Premson’s Chowk.