Rs 600 Cr Traffic unpaid challans pending since 2014 : Hyderabad Jt CP Ranganath strategies 'modified enforcement'

Hyderabad : The Hyderabad Traffic police have raised 70.03 lakh challans for the year ending December 2021. Of which 50 lakh violations were related to not wearing helmets and breaking speed limits. Of this, only 40 % of violators have paid their challans while, the 60 % pending fines have added to ever-increasing defaulters which have now increased to 1.75 crore. The unpaid fines have touched Rs 600 crore in a span of 8 years.

New Hyderabad Traffic Joint Commissioner A.V Ranganath has a task cut out to recover Rs 600 crore unpaid fine from the defaulting motorists in the city. "Since 2014, the number of unpaid challans has piled up to 1.75 crore. The backlog of unpaid fines has reached Rs 600 crore. A lot of fines are compoundable (a case where the enforcement agency and the violator can reach a compromise). The department is studying legal aspects on how to reduce the backlog by getting violators to pay. One of the many strategies is to hold a Lok Adalat in order to facilitate payment. The team is working on 'modifying' enforcement strategies," Ranganath told NewsMeter.

"One must understand that Traffic cops impose challans in order to discipline commuters. Imposing fine alone does not serve the purpose. Pertinently, challans have not been able to reduce the number of road accidents. It is responsible riding. Driving of the commuter that matters," he added.

Ranganath who earlier served as Superintendent of Police, Nalgonda, has now penned down a 'Wish list for the department which will help them 'modify' enforcement. Preventing accidents, identifying black spots, reducing pending challans loads, installing more speed guns, curbing drunken driving are high on his agenda. Hyderabad traffic police cover a jurisdiction of 6 zones (South, North, Central, East, West, and West-central), with 2500 jawans operating from 25 police stations.

Accidents:

An independent study carried out by the city traffic team revealed that a high number of road accidents occur in Hyderabad jurisdiction during night hours (after 11 PM and before 6 AM). Drunk driving and over-speeding is the primary reason. "Generally the drunken driving checks are wrapped up by 12 midnight. However, the study has revealed that many accidents occur post-checking hours. The department is studying these aspects- that is cause of accident, location and will 'modify' our enforcement timings accordingly. Hyderabad Police Commissioner is keen on involving the traffic wing in anti-drug enforcement. The department is researching gadgets/ equipment that would detect drug consumption like the alcohol detecting machine," he said.

In 2021, a total of 1961 accidents have been reported in Hyderabad City limits. Of which, 278 were fatal accidents. Around 2060 people were injured in these accidents. Of whom 350 were grievous injuries. In the city, 620 pedestrians got injured in road accidents. 86 of them lost their lives.

Speed Guns:

"Hyderabad Traffic Police in the process of procuring 'laser' speed guns. The beam of the speed gun falls on the vehicles and calculates the speed and reports accordingly. The current equipment installed in various zones do not function during night hours. However, these laser speed guns detect violations in the dead of the night. These gadgets are a priority owing to the high number of accidents caused by over-speeding reported during late hours," said the officer.

Licenses canceled/ suspended

Licences of 25 people have been suspended or canceled in 2021. Around 25453 drunken driving (DD) cases were registered in Hyderabad city this year. Compared to 2020, there has been a huge increase in DD cases in 2021, despite the lockdown. All those found involved in DD have been booked under section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. A penalty of Rs. 10000 or imprisonment up to 6 months is for the first offense. There is a penalty of Rs. 15000 or imprisonment up to 2 years for the second or subsequent offense.

Also, all their driving licenses will be seized and sent to the concerned RTOs for suspension as per section 19 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Police said for the first offense, the driving license (DL) will be suspended for 3 months. For the second and subsequent offenses, the DL will be revoked permanently making the person ineligible to drive in India.

Meanwhile, out of total cases of drunken driving in 2021, charge sheets have been filed only in 10,109 cases. Around 206 people have been sent to jail. Also, Rs 10,49,61,000 fine has been collected by the court.