Nagpur: Days after the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the Traffic Police Department, citing their failure to curb the prevalent issue of wrong side driving in the Second Capital of the State, the Nagpur Traffic Department has decided to act tough against violators. Nagpur Police became the first unit in the country to file FIRs against drivers riding their vehicles on the ‘Wrong Side’.
It is pertinent to mention that the move is followed by the summons issued by the High Court to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Traffic over traffic mismanagement. The stern measure is seen as a fallout of a terse observation by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court division bench, comprising justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri, which said that “merely issuing challans would not help in strictly enforcing the rules”.
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Wed 11 Dec. 2024
Speaking to Nagpur Today, DCP Traffic Shashikant Satav informed that, “Between March 4 and 20, 280 FIRs were filed against drivers riding on the ‘Wrong Side’. The move has proved significant in deterring accidents in the city; in the last fortnight, 50% of accidents have reduced in the city,” DCP said, adding that, “Cops will continue to act tough against people found violating traffic rules and endangering the lives of others.”
DCP has also appealed to citizens to adhere to traffic norms as it not only saves their life but also others!
It may be recalled that the number of challans issued for wrong-side driving has doubled in a year. In 2022, the number was 3,957, which went up to 6,554 in 2023. Accidents caused by ‘wrong side’ driving are also a matter of concern. So now it will be interesting to see how much difference this move makes going forward.
– Shubham Nagdeve
