Police rake in ₹10 crore in fines from errant drivers

GURGAON: The traffic police had launched an enforcement drive to curb traffic violations, a move that has reaped huge dividends for the department. The crackdown so far has generated over ₹10 crore in fines from erring drivers, which is 32% more than last year’s collection.

The drive, which began as a routine exercise to improve the traffic conditions by reducing congestion on city roads, was intensified in August after the city police saw a change in guard. Joint commissioner of police, Y Puran Kumar, was given the charge of traffic. As against 44,000 challans per month in January, Gurgaon police registered over 56,000 challans in September, the highest in the year. The revenue generated increased from ₹ 73 lakh to ₹1.37 crore in the two months.

Compared to 4,43,268 challans against erring drivers in 2015, around 4,56,614 challans were issued in 2016. In all, ₹10.3 crore were recovered as fine in the year compared to ₹7.78 crore in 2015. Out of the total fine, ₹4.77 crore alone was collected in four months beginning September. These regular drives were intensified after monsoon rains triggered mile-long snarls on Gurgaon roads, including the DelhiGurgaon Expressway. Those penalised included drivers of autorickshaws, taxis and other vehicles. Those caught not wearing seat belts and engaging in drink driving were also fined. The checks were carried out mainly on MG Road, Cyber City, Huda City Centre and other metro stations, Sohna Road, Old Delhi Road, among other areas.

The whole exercise served not only as a deterrent for erring drivers, but it also helped in reducing congestion on roads.

Sources, however, said that snarls on city roads could not be completely done away with till the problem of space crunch for parking was solved.

A case in point is MG Road, one of the locations where the

COMPARED TO 4,43,268 CHALLANS AGAINST ERRING DRIVERS IN 2015, ONLY ABOUT 4,56,614 CHALLANS WERE ISSUED IN 2016

enforcement drive is on. Even after the crackdown was launched, cars could be seen parked in rows on both sides of the road in the absence of lots. “Unless we have adequate parking spaces, we can’t expect to get rid of traffic jams,” said Gaurav Dixit, a commuter.

The enforcement drive, though, has helped discipline autorickshaw drivers. After the traffic department started towing away autos flouting norms, the drivers had no choice but to fall in line and ensure proper registration of their vehicles.

As many as 14,893 challans were issued against autorickshaw drivers for traffic violations in August and 1,828 autorickshaws were impounded. Between December 14 and 18 this year, as many as 1,745 three-wheelers were impounded while 4,490 were fined. “We have been trying our best to enforce traffic norms. It has got some encouraging results so far,” said Sandeep Khirwar, commissioner of Gurgaon police.

The scrapping of old currency notes too has affected the drive. On a given day before demonetisation, the traffic department used to issue 2,500 challans. Post demonetisation, that figure reduced to 1,000 a day.

“We are trying to switch to cashless payments and have promised to give up cash-based transactions by next month. We also expect more manpower in the next year for better enforcement,” Khirwar said.