From a police chowkie number that connects you to Market Yard to phones that don't ring, MiD DAY finds getting through to cops is a frustrating experience in city
From a police chowkie number that connects you to Market Yard to phones that don't ring, MiD DAY finds getting through to cops is a frustrating experience in city
The spanking new Mundhwa police station is up and functioning, but not its telephone lines ufffd non-payment of bills seems to be the issue.
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| Now, how about the phone lines? The inauguration of Mundhwa police station, which began functioning from July 3. The phone lines at the police station have been disconnected, reportedly for non-payment of bills |
There's more. It is not the only police station or chowkie in the city with phone issues. There are three police chowkies with no phones at all, one where the phone does not work, two where the phone numbers given on the police website are incorrect, and two where if the numbers given on the website are dialled, a recorded voice tells you the number does not exist.
Then, there is a chowkie where the phone does not ring, one where the wire has to be held with the hand because of a loose connection, and even one where the number given on the police website connects you to Market Yard.
Considering the fact that unavailability of phone lines can affect the response time of the police when any
untoward incident happens, MiD DAY conducted a survey of 63 police chowkies under various police stations in the city and it threw up some astounding results (see box).
Relying on mobilesMundhwa police station, the 29th in the city, was inaugurated recently by Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe.
"The landline phones are not working and officials use their mobile phones," said a constable, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The reason officials at the police station are going about their job without landline telephones is that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has disconnected the line for non-payment of bills.
"We have been told that the problem will be resolved soon," said a constable on night duty, also requesting anonymity.
Mundhwa police station has some sensitive areas under its jurisdiction, including BT Kawade Road, ABC Farm extension, Keshav Nagar, Mundhwa, Ghorpadi Village, Vikas Nagar, Sarvodaya Nagar and Koregaon Park extension.
While Devidas Patil, in-charge of the Mundhwa police station, admitted that phone lines were a basic need to be accessible to the public, he also said that they had made other arrangements.
"This is not hampering our day-to-day work as an additional line has been given to us," said Patil.
The state government had given its approval for Mundhwa police station in 2008, and it became operational on July 3.
