Traffic dept booked 13L offenders in 7 months, earned Rs 14 cr as fines…..Mohan K Korappath
The traffic authorities on Wednesday informed the court that more than 13 lakh cases related to traffic violations were registered till July this year, which helped the department earn Rs14 crore by means of fines and penalties. The notes submitted by the traffic department reveal that between June and July this year, 3,56,256 cases were slapped against errant motorists that led to collection of Rs3,83,24,130 as fines.
The fines were also collected for other offences such as drunken driving, jumping signals, honking and riding without helmets, among others.
The court was informed that the traffic department has initiated various drives for this purpose, which is besides the awareness programmes for training traffic police and general public.
The notes placed before a division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice Roshan Dalvi has come in response to a public interest litigation filed by the Bombay Bar Association for strict implementation of traffic norms and action against errant traffic constables.
The notes submitted by the traffic authorities said that while during the day, there is one traffic police per 15,375 persons, during night, it is one traffic police per 88,652 persons.
Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Vivek Phansalkar and assistant government pleader JS Saluja told the court that training programmes for sensitising the traffic police and creating awareness among children are presently in progress.
The traffic department informed the court that is taking help from institutions such as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences as well as the education department to implement this drive across the city.
Advocate and intervener Armin Wandrewala said that action needs to be taken against errant traffic constables. She also pointed out that the civic body and BEST undertaking should do their bit for better traffic management.
The court told the traffic authorities that there is no point in doing all this unless they take action against errant traffic constables.
Wandrewala said that common people too should act sensible and follow traffic rules.
As for the traffic police, she said that there is no need for training in behavioral science as submitted by the government.
“All you need to do is to issue instructions and increase the visibility of traffic police to discourage offenders,” she said.
Wandrewala also said that 90% of zebra lines have been obliterated.
“All we want is action against earrant traffic constables,” the court said, while adjourning the hearing for two weeks for the authorities to chalk out a plan to implement traffic laws.
The court has also asked the Wandrewala and Rashmi Karandikar, superintendent of police, highway safety patrol, to formulate a feasible plan for better traffic management.