Meet the 85-year-old who mans a Mumbai traffic signal every evening

Every day without fail from 430 pm to 8 pm Bharat Panchal 85 mans his lsquopostrsquo at Thakur Complex signal on the Western Express Highway in Kandivli East managing traffic preventing vehicles from entering the wrong lane and urging motorists to wear helmets and seatbelts Panchal who claims he isnrsquot on any medication despite his advanced age attributes his fitness to his volunteerism and says his only aim is to ensure that people follow traffic rulesThe octogenarian resides with his wife in the Highway Park building at Thakur Complex in Kandivli East Traffic police personnel tea sellers coconut vendors and residents support Panchal daily by offering him tea and coconuts The traffic police have also felicitated Panchal with gifts in appreciation of his remarkable workPanchal said ldquoI have been doing this work for several years only to ensure everyone follows traffic rules Nobody should break signals as it increases the chances of accidents I always carry a whistle and a torch The traffic police have offered me a green reflector jacket but I refusedrdquoldquoI want to stay healthy forever and that is why I chose this way of life Managing traffic allows me to communicate with people meet new faces daily educate citizens about traffic rules and prevent vehicles from entering the wrong lanerdquo Panchal explainedPanchal further said ldquoBecause of this work I am fit and fine I have dedicated my life to helping the police manage traffic and I will continue to do so Many years ago I noticed that the Thakur Complex junction on the Western Express Highway was always congested due to traffic violations That is when I decided to take responsibility I do not take money from any department for this work It is my passion hobby and dream In return I receive love and respect from citizens The traffic police also support merdquoCop SpeakSenior Inspector Jagdish Bhopale of the Kandivli Traffic Division said ldquoBharat Panchal is doing excellent work by managing traffic at this signal entirely on his own We have informed him that it can be risky because vehicles travel at high speed on the highway but he insists he is doing this so everyone follows traffic rules The traffic division also presented him with a gift this Diwali Very few people in Mumbai do such selfless work Despite his age Panchalrsquos energy is like that of a young man We fully support him We also offered him the role of a traffic warden but he refused as he does not want any monetary benefit We are fortunate to have Panchal at this junction where he continues to do commendable work every dayrdquoTraffic volunteer Bharat Panchal in action at the Thakur Complex signal on the Western Express Highway in Kandivli East PicsShirish VaktaniaConstable Sandip Jadhav of the Kandivli Traffic Division said ldquoI see this gentleman at his spot every day He helps us regularly I usually give him water and biscuits I feel good seeing the fantastic work he does assisting the traffic police We have told him several times that managing traffic is a tough and risky job but he insists that he wants to do it for the greater goodrdquoConstable Sunil Dabhade said ldquoI salute Panchal He told me that he had received training at the Tardeo RTO office We do not have official records confirming whether he worked with the RTO earlier but his work is excellent He works with the energy of a young man Citizens also listen to him and traffic violations at this junction have reduced because of his presencerdquo35 hrsLength of Bharat Panchalrsquos daily lsquoshiftrsquo