After giving a week’s time and verbal warnings to helmet-less drivers, the Traffic Police on Monday conducted intensive checking at different crossings and roads of the city. As many as 534 people were slapped challan on the first day of week for helmet-less driving.
“We have issued challan to 534 persons for riding two-wheeler without helmet till 7 pm and the figure is likely to increase as the inspection of vehicles will continue till 9 pm,” said Additional SP (Traffic) Balram Hirwani.
Traffic cops deployed at different crossings and squares of the city checked the helmet-less drivers and issued challan to them. The checking was done at Kalibadi Chowk, Collectorate Square, Fafadih Square, Telibandha Square, Tatibandh Square, Phul Chowk, Pandhri, and many others spots in the city.
At many instances, traffic cops faced resistance from people who argued that the Government has given time to purchase helmet and tried to evade the penalty. The cops however penalized most of them and issued verbal warnings to a few.
Many people alleged that traffic cops have harassed them in the name of inspection and said that they were kept waiting in the sun for no reason. Traffic cops refuted the charges and said that only those who did not wear helmet were stopped and booked for breach of traffic rules.
“We have been giving verbal warnings to the helmet-less riders for past ten days. Now it’s time for action and punitive action will be taken against the defaulters,” said Hirwani.
Chief Minister Raman Singh too had moved on scooter to create awareness among people and appealed that people should wear helmet for their personal safety. Besides this posters and hoardings with appeals have been installed across the city in this regard.
With helmet checking going on in different parts of the city, the rush at helmet shops increased. People instantly purchased helmets to avoid police action. Taking advantage of this, a large number of stalls have been opened on roadside in different parts of the city to sell helmets. A penalty of Rs 200 is imposed for helmet-less driving.