Cops in overdrive, challan 700 drivers in two hours

Over 700 people were prosecuted in two hours by Delhi Police on Thursday for violating traffic rules under a drive called 'Operation Chakravyuh'.

The operation was launched by the traffic police earlier to curb people's tendency to violate traffic laws when there is thin presence of police. Its second session was conducted on Thursday on the stretch from Azad Market Chowk to Roshnara Road near Pul Bangash Metro station from 9.10 am to 11.10 am.

During the drive, traffic police booked 701 people and an amount of Rs 72,500 was collected as challan.

As the name of the operation suggests, some 15 traffic police personnel formed a human wall at the stretch in a manner that violators could not escape.

The maximum number of challans, 563, were issued for riding without helmets, followed by red light jumping at 44. Other offences recorded were triple riding and defective number plates.

Moreover, five motorists were arrested and their vehicles impounded under section 279 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rash and negligent driving.

Police also impounded 32 e-rickshaws plying without number plates and issued 16 notices to vehicles that were parked arbitrarily on the road.

Police aim to change the psychology of the public and instil fear in the minds of people with such drives. Those arrested will also be counselled by a team on the importance of traffic rules.

“We see a very irresponsible attitude when we catch violators. There are educated people who don’t care for their safety. During these two sessions of the operation police have noticed that people don’t fear getting caught as the challan of Rs 100 is very less. Increasing the amount can be a deterrent for controlling violations,” said Muktesh Chander, Special Commissioner, Traffic Police.

The traffic police will also start seizing licences up to three months of violators of speed limit, traffic signal jumpers and those using mobile phones while driving, after it was authorised by a Supreme Court committee on road safety.

“We had requested the committee to give more powers to the traffic police. Earlier, only the transport department was authorised to seize licences. But now we will be able to do it,” Chander said.

The commissioner said that next “surprise drive” would be conducted in east Delhi and any impact would be seen after four-five such exercises.