The traffic police is all set to begin a special drive from January 11 to remove crash guards and bull guards from four-wheelers running on roads in the State Capital adhering to the guidelines of the Supreme Court as well as the Union Ministry of Highways and Road Transportation.
“Persons driving cars and SUVs having crash guards and bull-guards will be immediately fined under the Motor Vehicle Act after January 10,” said SP (Traffic), Sanjay Ranjan Singh.
With just a day left with the traffic police for implementing the rules in a city where quite a number of cars have bumper guards, on enquiring how the traffic police would ensure complete adherence to the order, Singh said, “All traffic constables have been ordered to keep a strict vigil on all vehicles crossing through their respective traffic check posts. Those found violating the norms will be held immediately on the spot.”
However, the Traffic SP failed to fix a timeframe for the complete ban on the use of crash guards, but assured that all possible measures will be adopted to make public adhere to the rules as prescribed by the Ministry and the Apex Court.
Meanwhile, on January 8, a delegation of Jharkhand Motor Accessories Dealers Association submitted a requisition letter to the SP, Traffic for extending the time for removing crash guards from the cars. According to the members of the association, there are around five lakh cars here in Ranchi with bumper guards fixed on them.
Clarifying his stance on extending the time limit, the SP (Traffic) further added that the dates for removing crash guards will not be extended further regardless of anything. “The checking drive will initiate from January 10 onwards only, and there is no such plan for extending the dates. Taking into account, pedestrians’ safety as one of the prime reasons behind removing crash guards and bull guards besides other technical reasons, rigorous drive will be conducted here under the vigilance of Traffic DSPs and District Transportation officer (DTO) from the approved date,” Singh said.
The Traffic SP mentioned that every individual is on the radar and will have to abide by the rules, irrespective of anything. “Not only the commoners will face the music, but we will also act sternly against VIPs and other high profile people as well. Moreover, the car owners must ensure that the bumper guards are removed both from the front and backside,” he said.
According to a communiqué released by the Surface Transport Ministry, bull-guards are illegal under Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Anyone found having crash guards or bull guards embedded on their car will be charged under the Section 190 and 191 of the Motor Vehicles Act. A fine amount of Rs. 1500 is slapped against a person who violates the set guidelines.