Drive against stop line violations: 3,968 cases booked in Cyberabad, 10K in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: With an aim to facilitate better pedestrian movement in the city, the Hyderabad and Cyberabad traffic police have started a special drive against vehicles who cross the stop line at signals.

As per Section 177 of the Motor Vehicle (MV) Act, a maximum penalty of Rs. 200 can be levied on any and all vehicles. "We have repeatedly seen these stop line violations in the Cyberabad commissionerate, and it is not just one or two vehicles. Many vehicles cross the line even though there is a red signal," said Cyberabad traffic DCP T. Srinivas Rao.

Speaking to NewsMeter, he said, "There have been several instances where traffic police had to ensure the vehicles didn't cross the stop line."

He said the special drive against stop line violations began on 1 November and a whopping 3,968 cases have been booked and challans issued in the Cyberabad commissionerate in the last 10 days in 12 traffic police stations under its jurisdiction. The highest number of cases have been reported in Madhapur (655), Narsingi (555), Gachibowli (538), and Rajendra Nagar (379).

"The primary aim of the stop lines is to ensure that pedestrians can cross the roads safely. However, if vehicles cross them then pedestrians will surely resort to crossing the roads where there is no zebra crossing," Mr. Srinivas Rao said.

The special drive was also launched in the Hyderabad commissionerate.

Between 15 September and 10 November 2022, 10,577 cases have been registered in the Hyderabad commissionerate for violating stop lines.

Both Cyberabad and Hyderabad traffic police have said that a majority of the vehicles that cross stop lines are two-wheelers.

Drive against blocking free lefts

The Hyderabad commissionerate also launched a special drive against blocking free lefts. "The amount of traffic congestion being caused due to blocking free lefts is immense. We put up boards stating that junctions have free lefts at all points. However, some people haven't been following it," said joint traffic commissioner, Hyderabad traffic police, A.V Ranganath.

If any vehicle blocks a free left turn then cases will be booked and challans issued. So far, 13,573 cases have been booked against vehicles for blocking free left turns in the Hyderabad commissionerate.

U-turns and bus stops

On the other hand, the Hyderabad traffic police identified various other factors that are causing traffic congestion, such as bus stops, auto stands, U-turns, and so on. Following the start of operation ROPE, field-level officers identified 40 bus stops, 30 auto stands, and 19 U-turns that were slowing down traffic.

Fourteen bus stops were completely shifted, three were partially shifted, five were found not feasible, and 18 bus stops are in the process of being shifted. The Hyderabad traffic police sent a letter to the GHMC requesting that bus shelters be built as soon as possible to help passengers. Similarly, 19 of the 30 auto stands were relocated.

In-depth research, conducted in collaboration with the engineering wing of the GHMC, was reportedly conducted at U-turns where traffic congestion was increasing due to vehicles slowing down while maneuvering. Discussions are underway to either shift or close the U-turns in order to avoid traffic snarls and stop the cascading effect on either side of the stretch/junction. Following a thorough investigation, two critical U-turns at Himayath Nagar Road and Zahiranagar Banjara Hills were closed.