21 April,2023 07:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan
A man rides on the wrong side outside the railway station in Bandra East, on April 16. Pic/Anurag Ahire
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The persisting problem of wrong-side driving has irked citizens across the city, forcing them to approach the police for a solution. Mumbai Commissioner of Police (CP) Vivek Phansalkar ordered a special drive, during which action was taken against 20,000 offenders within just two weeks. Besides issuing challans, cancelling registrations and seizing vehicles, the police registered cases against more than 300 motorists.
"Of late, we have observed a rise in incidents of wrong-way driving, and as a result, city police and the traffic department have launched a campaign against the violators. Strong legal action, including registration of offences and necessary arrests, will be taken to curb this issue," Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar told mid-day.
According to statistics released by the city police, a special drive was conducted between April 6 and April 18 throughout the city under the guidance of Phansalkar and Special Commissioner Deven Bharti. As a result, the traffic police and local police stations were able to take action against 20,207 vehicles. Officers seized 2,194 licenses and sent 1,488 licenses for suspension or cancellation.
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Furthermore, police seized around 309 vehicles of habitual offenders across the city, and cases were registered against 308 vehicle owners under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act. According to the official figures, more than Rs 72 lakh in fines were collected over the two weeks.
"We have a zero-tolerance policy towards wrong-way driving, as it has been one of the primary causes of fatal accidents and has received numerous complaints from citizens. Apart from the special drive, we take daily actions against other traffic violations to ensure smooth traffic movement in the city," Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pravin Padwal said.
In March 2022, mid-day reported about the then CP Sanjay Pandey's order to register FIRs against offenders under Sections 279 (rash driving/riding) and 336 (endangering human life and safety of others) of the IPC.
