Flyovers closed, drunk driving checks: Hyderabad traffic guidelines issued for New Year celebrations

Hyderabad: In view of the New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31, certain restrictions and guidelines are issued in public interest by the Rachakonda Traffic Police.

The guidelines are here as follows:

- The ORR will be kept closed for Light Motor Vehicles and Passenger Vehicles from 11 pm on December 31 to 5 am on January 1, 2025, in view of the safety of road users. Medium and Heavy Goods Vehicles will be allowed. Note: Bonafide passengers travelling to the Airport on light motor vehicles will be allowed on ORR subject to production of tickets.

- Nagole Flyover, Kamineni Flyover, Multi-level flyovers at LB Nagar X road, first and Second-level flyovers at Bairamalguda X road (Sagar Ring Road), LB Nagar Underpass and Chinthalkunta underpass will be kept closed for Light Motor Vehicles, Two-wheelers and Passenger Vehicles from 10 pm on December 31 to 5 am on January 1, 2025, in view of safety of road users. Medium and Heavy Goods vehicles will be allowed. Note: The public is requested to make their travel plans accordingly and cooperate with the Traffic Police.

- The drivers/operators of cabs/taxis/auto rickshaws shall be in proper uniform and carry all their documents. They shall not refuse ride-on-hire to any public. It is a violation of Section 178 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. A penalty of Rs 500 will be imposed in the form of an e-challan on such refusal to ply. The public may send such complaints to us on WhatsApp No 8712662111 with details of vehicle, time, place etc. They shall not misbehave with the public or demand excess fares.

- Any bar/pub/club etc., knowingly or negligently allowing their customers/associates to drive under the influence of alcohol after consuming alcohol in their premises will be dealt with strictly as per law and the concerned management will be prosecuted for abetting the crime. They shall strictly educate their customers/associates on the consequences of drunk driving and shall make alternative arrangements for travel. They shall stop drunken persons from driving a vehicle from their premises.

Drunk Driving checks on all roads of Rachakonda Commissionerate

- The vehicles will be taken for temporary safe custody on non-production of documents. It is the duty of the vehicle drivers to stop and show the documents and obey the instructions of the Traffic Police on public roads as per law. Any obstruction to the duties of Traffic Police may lead to action as per law separately.

- Minor driving or driving without a valid Driving License will lead to detention of the vehicle and the owner and driver both will be prosecuted in the court of law. The motorists shall have to make their own arrangements for further travel.

- Usage of high-decibel sound with modified horns/music systems, etc., in the vehicles, is prohibited and vehicles will be detained and sent to RTO for further action. Driving vehicles without number plates will also lead to detention of vehicles and such vehicles will also be sent to RTO.

- Overcrowding in vehicles/travelling on top of vehicles/creating nuisance in public places will also lead to strict action as per law.

- Traffic Police will be booking appropriate cases against drunken driving, rash driving, over-speeding, excessive honking, modified silencers, dangerous driving, triple/multiple riding, etc.,

- The public shall exercise caution, and self-responsibility while driving on public roads and travel safely.

- The drunk driving cases U/s 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 will be booked against each one of the drunk drivers and all of them will be sent to Court in due time.

Suspension of driving license

A penalty of Rs 10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months for the first offence and a penalty of Rs 15,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years for a second or subsequent offence. Also, all their driving licenses will be seized and sent to concerned RTOs for suspension as per section 19 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. For the first offence, the DL will be suspended for 3 months and for the second and subsequent offences, the DL will be revoked permanently making the person ineligible to drive in India.

Further, if any person commits a road accident that results in death by driving under the influence of alcohol/reckless driving, a criminal case will be booked U/s 105 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder) punishment of imprisonment up to 10 years and fine.