Prayagraj: Motorists caught driving without helmets or seat belts, or using mobile phones while driving in the city, will now face suspension of their driving licences in addition to challans. The decision was taken at a meeting of the district road safety committee chaired by District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma on Friday.
Strict Enforcement and Notices
Officials were directed to ensure strict enforcement of traffic rules across the city. During the meeting, instructions were issued to serve notices to marriage halls, schools, and hospitals lacking proper parking facilities. The administration also decided to prepare a special traffic management plan for heavily congested areas such as Chowk, Ghantaghar, Civil Lines, and Lalla Chungi.
Involvement of Local Stakeholders
Representatives of tempo-taxi unions, local vendors, and volunteers will be involved in implementing the plan from June 1 to reduce traffic jams. To ease congestion, buses and trucks will be allowed to park only at 16 identified permanent holding areas.
No-Obstruction Zones and Committees
Authorities also decided to identify no e-rickshaw zones, no-vehicle zones, and pedestrian-only zones in urban areas and declare them as no-obstruction areas. A committee headed by the ADM City, comprising officials from the traffic police, Roadways, transport department, and tempo-taxi unions, was formed to implement the proposal from June 1.
Action Against Property Damage
The district administration warned of strict action against anyone found damaging government property such as railings and dividers installed along roads.
Health Department and Other Directives
The DM also directed the health department to geo-tag hospitals located along highways and major roads and ensure proper ambulance deployment. Instructions were further issued to curb stunt riding and streamline street vending zones to prevent unnecessary traffic congestion.
About the Author: Rajeev Mani has been working in TOI's Prayagraj bureau for the past two decades, covering beats from education to excise and taxation to aviation. He loves travelling, singing, and meeting people, especially academics. He has extensively covered two Ardh Kumbhs (2007 and 2019) and two Maha Kumbhs (2013 and 2025) along with different assembly and general elections.
