In a sweeping enforcement drive, the Ranchi district traffic police have penalised a staggering number of vehicles for flouting road rules. Officials revealed on Tuesday that a total of 27,235 challans were issued over the past two months for various violations of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act.
A Drive Mandated by the High Court
This intensive campaign was not an isolated initiative but a direct response to instructions from the Jharkhand High Court. The court had emphasised the need for ensuring smooth and orderly traffic flow within the city, prompting the traffic wing to launch a sustained action plan. The drive saw coordinated efforts across all traffic posts in Ranchi.
Breaking Down the Numbers: Top Violations
The data released by the traffic police paints a clear picture of the most common offences on Ranchi's roads. Topping the list by a huge margin was illegal parking, which accounted for 20,947 challans.
Other significant violations that led to fines and seizures include:
- 1,776 challans for using black films on windows.
- 1,617 for the illegal use of pressure horns.
- 1,042 for installing additional, unauthorised light fixtures on vehicles.
- 788 for the dangerous practice of wrong-side driving.
- 369 for triple riding on two-wheelers.
- 218 for displaying unauthorised flags and boards on vehicles.
- 168 for the serious offence of drunken driving.
- 156 for using modified silencers.
- 152 for tow-away actions, where vehicles were parked for hours on busy roads.
Strict Instructions for Maximum Impact
Traffic SP Rakesh Singh elaborated on the methodology behind the drive. He stated that all traffic posts were specifically instructed to issue fines for any breach of the MV Act. Furthermore, the in-charges of traffic police stations were directed to dedicate at least four hours daily to inspecting their assigned areas and issuing challans.
SP Singh also highlighted action against another persistent problem. The traffic wing targeted large goods vehicles that were violating no-entry orders on the outskirts of Ranchi. "Initially, fines were issued against 40 to 50 such vehicles each day, but later on the number of violators declined," he noted, indicating a deterrent effect of the campaign.
The massive scale of the enforcement action underscores the traffic police's commitment to curbing reckless driving and parking habits. It serves as a stern warning to all vehicle owners in the state capital to adhere to traffic regulations or face financial penalties and potential vehicle seizures.
