In and around Chennai, Kaanum Pongal is synonymous with Marina beach. On this concluding day of Pongal festivities, people descend on its soft sands. As Kaanum Pongal will arrive in a few days, members of Citizens for Safe Roads (CSR), a volunteering group engaged in road safety and traffic regulation, have gone to the drawing board.
Every year, on Kaanum Pongal, they are on self-imposed duty at the Marina beach to assist the thousands gathered at the beach to use the road safely. For this work, they get the permission of the Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic — Chennai).
Founded as voluntary organisation in 2004 by Vijay Mehta, CSR joined hands with Chennai Traffic Police (CTP) in 2011to regulate traffic and ensure road safety. CSR volunteers, who are aged above 18 years, are issued authorised photo-ID cards by the Traffic Commissioner.
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Each volunteer has a unique CSR number. Additionally, the organisation maintains a contract with the volunteers. These contracts are renewed every month.
The ID card authorises a volunteer to assist CTP in traffic education and regulation.
“When members of the public apprise us of traffic-related issues, we first study the place or analyse the situation and later provide the CTP with strategies to resolve them. We also work closely with the Chennai Corporation,” says Kasi Vishwanathan, engineer and traffic coordinator of CSR.
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CSR’s achievements include resolving major traffic issues near IIT-Madras, Adyar, Nungambakkam High Road and Valluvar Kottam High Road. Some volunteers carry out road safety programmes in their respective residential areas during their leisure hours. Many regulate traffic during school hours.
Currently, the team is on a mission to educate school students about the importance of road safety.
They also plan to invite women and senior citizens to volunteer, especially at bus terminals. If you would like to join CSR, write to csrtamilnadu@gmail.com or call 044 28362924.