NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Travel

Bangalore drafts plastic traffic cops to police streets

NZ Herald
12 Dec, 2019 07:37 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Bangalore's understaffed traffic cops have found a novel way to pad out their ranks. Photo / Nitish Phanse, Twitter

Bangalore's understaffed traffic cops have found a novel way to pad out their ranks. Photo / Nitish Phanse, Twitter

One of India's most congested cities has hired an unconventional force of traffic cops.

A force of mannequins have been drafted in to police the roads and keep the city moving.
Dressed in police caps, hi-vis jackets, and khaki trousers - they show up to duty at Bangalore's busiest intersections,
often propped up by trees or roadside furniture.

But no one could accuse these coppers of being stuffed shirts.

There are signs that the wooden police force are having an impact on driver behaviour.
As a hub for India's tech services, Bangalore has around eight million drivers on the roads. This is expected to rise to 10 million on the next two years.

People shaking hands with BTP mannequins @blrcitytraffic @WeAreBangalore #Bangalore #traffic #trafficpolice #mannequins #stmarksroad #bengaluru #namma pic.twitter.com/KpVHheGgty

— Rahul Sharma (@rahul_sharma83) November 28, 2019
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

As a result roads are deathly slow and commute times are almost unbearable. Traffic averages a speed of just under 19kph and is the country's second most congested behind Mumbai, according to local tech company MovinSync Technology Solutions.

Police – a of the non-mannequin variety – record over 20,000 traffic violations a day.
While up close their appearance is comical, road users are more cautious when they catch sight of the yellow vests. Their presence seems to calm traffic.

"It is making people wear their helmets at traffic junctions," college student Gautam T, told the BBC.

Saravana, a rickshaw taxi driver, said the plastic police force has had a calming effect on his driving: "It makes you not jump the traffic signal."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Others are not so impressed. Bangalore social media is already full of #mannequin selfies.

#Bangalore @blrcitytraffic @BangaloreMirror @WFRising Is he on a Sunday break? Saving #Whitefield trees? Punishment posting? Paid the price for stopping wrong-side bikers at SV road,opp ICICI, Hope Farm? If some1 seriously thought #mannequins can replace #trafficcops ... pic.twitter.com/MLeTItfzn9

— Sanjeev (@SaysSanjeev) December 8, 2019

With the world famous Bangalore Mannequin Police @BlrCityPolice 😁💕 pic.twitter.com/mIytI4iXpJ

— Urvashi (@kingfisherontap) December 4, 2019

Heard on @Redfmbengaluru this morning about @blrcitytraffic traffic cop mannequins being deployed across Bangalore as deterrents to rule breakers, and guess what I spotted this evening? pic.twitter.com/au2HrhY3M3

— Tushar Kanwar (@2shar) November 28, 2019

Some road users say traffic is no better when actual cops are on duty.

Bangalore local, Felix sees plastic police officers as hardly a priority. He calls the mannequins a "waste of money" while locals "don't have footpaths to walk on, roads to drive on and proper transport."

PR worker Saleela Kappan said the dummies were "far too fit and fair" to be mistaken for Indian policemen. Talking to the BBC she says the mannequins have little hope, "people violate traffic rules even when policemen themselves are present".

Discover more

Travel

India: Steaming in a real Indian summer

25 Sep 12:00 AM
Travel

India: Rich pleasures in the land of rajahs

02 Mar 07:00 PM
Travel

How I fell for the world's stupidest scam

10 Aug 02:32 AM
Travel

U-Boat base transformed into world's largest light show

13 Dec 12:44 AM

#Mannequincop
Mannequin to solve Bangalore traffic woes 👻#bangaloretraffic #Traffic #Mannequin #scarecrow #Bangalore pic.twitter.com/hBvDiHizDr

— Deb (@devdesure) November 27, 2019

Don’t miss the Traffic Mannequin 😱😂😂talk about public money being waster...we don’t have footpaths to walk on, roads to drive on and proper transport... yet BANGALORE police have so much money to waste on this @WFRising @BBCWorld @TOIBengaluru @BBMPCOMM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/m0E7w6yTW7

— Felix Remedios (@Reynold_Online) December 9, 2019

BR Ravikante Gowda, a senior traffic police officer in Bangalore, explained to the BBC World Service the rational for padding out the ranks of his traffic enforcement officers:
"The idea of placing these mannequins at a different location every day is because people behave differently when there is a policeman present at the junction. When he is not there, their behaviour is different."

But don't get too complacent, the police are no dummies.

They rotate the daily deployment of mannequins daily with real cops, which gives errant drivers the fright of their life when what they thought was a plastic police man springs into life to issue them a ticket.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Travel

Premium
Opinion

Disneyland Aotearoa: Is it a dream worth considering?

23 Jun 03:00 AM
Travel

Kiwi chef reveals most surprising foodie region in Aotearoa

21 Jun 06:00 PM
Travel

Auckland Airport flights delayed or cancelled due to fog

20 Jun 09:41 PM

One pass, ten snowy adventures

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Premium
Disneyland Aotearoa: Is it a dream worth considering?

Disneyland Aotearoa: Is it a dream worth considering?

23 Jun 03:00 AM

Opinion: Weta collaborations and wide spaces make the possibilities endless, and complex.

Kiwi chef reveals most surprising foodie region in Aotearoa

Kiwi chef reveals most surprising foodie region in Aotearoa

21 Jun 06:00 PM
Auckland Airport flights delayed or cancelled due to fog

Auckland Airport flights delayed or cancelled due to fog

20 Jun 09:41 PM
Stylish, central and affordable? This Waikiki hotel may have it all

Stylish, central and affordable? This Waikiki hotel may have it all

19 Jun 10:00 PM
Your Fiordland experience, levelled up
sponsored

Your Fiordland experience, levelled up

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP