But she has got a solution for it, thanks to the traffic´s toll-free number which gives information about traffic jams, strikes and other traffic related information. [break]
She has on many occasions prevented traffic jams and strikes from ruining her day just by dialing the toll free number.
“The solution is just a phone call away,” says Ranju Basnet, a housewife.
Resident of Kalanki, Basnet utilizes this facility most of time. “Traffic jams are very common in the Kathmandu city. The toll-free number helped us a lot,” shares Basnet.
Basnet believes in the adage prevention is better than cure, therefore, never hesitates to call the number for her own convenience.
“With the help of 103, I could save my children from getting into any kind of trouble during strikes,” shares Basnet.
She thinks traffic toll-free numbers are very useful for the people of the Kathmandu Valley and the control section of Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) is providing good service to the public.
Like Ranju, there are many other people who call 103 for any kind of traffic related information. The MTPD has assigned 10 traffic police personnel to answer the calls which on average reaches 5000 per day.
Kabin Ghimire, 20, is another user of traffic´s toll-free number. Student of Cosmos College of Management and Technology, Ghimire uses toll-free number not only to know about jams and strikes but also for knowing about the bus routes.
Recently, Ghimire called 103 to enquire about the Sajha Yatayat bus service and was duly informed about the route he could take. Whenever he is in doubt about bus routes, he calls the toll-free number.
“For the students of the Kathmandu valley like me, the number 103 is very helpful,” says Ghimire.
The control room is one of the busiest departments of MTPD as it is usually swamped with calls from people in confusion and those in need of help regarding the traffic situation.
People also call the control room to report about lost vehicles and high taxi fares. The traffic police personnel taking the calls are always prepared to help the callers, even those who make unrelated queries. “For example, some people want to know phone numbers of different offices. We suggest tell them to call in197,” shares Megh Raj Khatri, a traffic police at Control Section, MTPD.
“Some people become furious when we cannot provide them the information they want,” says Khatri. According to the section, it also gets a lot of calls from people who give fake information about accidents. “Such things create many problems to for us,” shares Khatri.
The control section has six telephone lines on which public can make free-of-cost calls and one landline number that is not free. “Our main motive is to be able to help people in distress and ensure smooth traffic flow,” Pawan Kumar Giri, spokesperson at the MTPD.
Some people complain of bad response
As toll-free numbers of MTPD help people get information about the situation of roads and about all other traffic related issues such as traffic jam, strikes, road diversions, bus routes, contact numbers of different traffic departments, the phones at the control room ring constantly.
There are many people who are not happy with the service provided by the control room. According to them, no response and uncooperative nature are the two most common problems with traffic control room.
Ritesh Adhikari, 23, is one such dissatisfied caller who has had a bitter experience with the toll-free number. Once Adhikari wanted to know whether there was any strike program or not, as he had heard rumors about the strike called by some political party. He got the toll-free number from his friend and made a call. But he did not get any clear information from the control room.
“I was about to miss my college because of the rumors and the traffic police was of no help,” says Adhikari.
Student of engineering, Adhikari thinks people should not totally depend on traffic toll-free numbers as they do not provide all information. “People must take traffic toll-free number as an option because they are not reliable all the time,” shares Adhikari.
Like Adhikari, there are many people who think traffic control room is not that helpful for them. They also claimed traffic´s uncooperative and rude behavior.
Pravesh Thapa, 27, is another member of the public who is disgruntled with the traffic control room. A couple of weeks ago, Thapa was charged for drunk driving. His license was snatched by the traffic police. “I had traffic´s toll-free number so I thought they would guide me to get back the licenses,” says Thapa.
But when Thapa telephoned them, his call was not received. “I called them more than six times but there was no answer from the other end,” says Thapa. He had to go to the MTDP without knowing how to get his license back.
Still, there are many who think traffic toll-free numbers are useful.
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