Chikkaballapur cops crack the whip, net Rs 8L in fine

The Chikkaballapur traffic police have begun to crack the whip on the rule violators. The strict enforcement drive has resulted in the police netting Rs 8.16 lakh as fine in a span of three months.

The traffic police have initiated several measures to streamline movement of vehicles in the town. Traffic snarls have become order of the day in Chikkaballapur of late owing to increase in number of vehicles among other factors. Apart from creating awareness about traffic rules, the police have launched an enforcement drive to book offenders. Teams of traffic policemen keep a strict vigil at major circles and junctions to keep tab on violations.

The traffic police have been paying special attention at Sir M Visvesvaraya Circle, Dr B R Ambedkar Circle, Shaneshwara temple and the place opposite the Canara Bank. Vehicles parked at ‘No Parking Area’ are penalised. Widespread complaints about the traffic mess in the town have been taken note of seriously by the traffic police. A large number of cases on violation of traffic rules have been  registered in the past three years.

“Special emphasis has been laid on parking on BB Road and MG Roads. Traffic constables and Home Guards have been deployed at several places. The traffic situation is coming under control due to strict enforcement of laws. No mercy is being shown in registering cases against the violators,” Munireddy, Sub-Inspector, Traffic Police Station, said.

He said that apart from the vigil maintained by traffic police personnel, CCTV cameras had been installed at major circles to keep tab on movement of vehicles. The cameras help monitoring traffic violations from the police station itself. Vehicles are penalised on the basis of their number plates, the inspector added.

He said that a sum of Rs three lakh was available with the City municipality for streamlining traffic and the local body has been asked to chip in for maintaining smooth traffic in Chikkaballapur. The municipality has been requested to instal display boards, Zebra crossings, parking spaces etc and no reply has been received yet, he added.

The traffic police are empowered to slap penalty for speedy driving, use of shrill horns, auto drivers demanding more fare and refusing to ply to the destination sought by passengers, overloading of autos, bus top journey, loading vehicles beyond stipulated capacity etc.

The Chikkaballapur traffic police have registered 8,636 cases of traffic violation during 2013 of which 590 pertain to use of mobile phones while driving. Similarly, of the 12,464 cases registered in 2014, as many as 707 are over use of mobile phones while driving.  A total of 273 such cases have been registered between January and June this year.