Dear Mumbaikars,
Who of you are not aware about the art of jaywalking? Possibly you do not know what is called 'jaywalking' and that it is an offence to do so, but we do it all the same...for we are Mumbaikars.... and at times we do not have any choice. For the uninitiated, 'jaywalking' is normally used for crossing a road from other than the designated place for crossing it.
Can you help if the nearest pedestrian crossing is fifty metres away? Can you help it if the signal to enable you to cross the road is only 15 seconds hence due? The first available gap in the traffic, the mass of people waiting to cross the roads, dash themselves to the other side....some amble over... some just nonchalantly walk with their mobiles stuck to their ears, oblivious that they are crossing a busy road.
The traffic police are helpless to control the surge of people and at times they use ropes to contain the people spilling over on streets, onto the oncoming traffic. At times they plead, cajole and frighten you to submission to await the green 'walk' signal. At times they fine you. Do the Mumbaikars ever learn?
Subways have been built to enable people to cross the busy streets with safety. Why does one not use these? The subway at the Vakola junction is plain dirty, full of litter and at times stinking of human faeces. At times it is also cleaned, but why should one go to check if it is clean enough to be used? Especially when the lights are stolen one by one, leaving the place in the dark or semi-darkness. The choice between two dangerous places - the dark dirty subway or the thrill of crossing the busy streets. Mumbaikars prefer to be thrilled or possibly they are more afraid of the darkness. Or they simply want to avoid the stairs.
You may wonder, why does the subway get dirty if people do not use it? Definitely some people use it to cross from underneath the busy roads and some just because they want to throw their litter. Some street-dwellers also wrap their morning outthrows and hurl it in these ways for people to trample upon.
This is life in Mumbai and one of the reasons why there are jaywalkers. Jaywalkers....continue jaywalking for you have nothing to lose other than your lives or limbs.
I am one such reluctant jaywalker.
Your comments are awaited.
Ghanshyam Karkera
