Twitter
Advertisement

dna exclusive: Traffic police want to finance equipment purchases by collecting fines

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Last year the Mumbai traffic police collected almost Rs. 20 crore through fines levied for various offences. Now it wants half of that amount back from the state government.

The city's traffic department has recently written to the state government to return to it at least 50% of the amount collected through fines. This amount will be used for purchasing better equipment such as breath analysers, speed guns and closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras, the traffic department has told the state government.

The department has said it is chronically short of equipment for detecting traffic offences. Last year the traffic police got 16 breath analysers from the state, bringing the total up to 90: a number which the department says is inadequate. The department wants more breath analysers so it can deploy them across the city, thus collecting even more revenue through fines.

Dr B K Upadhyay, joint commissioner of police, (traffic) said, "If this proposal is accepted by state the government, traffic department would be benefited and drastic changes can be implemented without looking for other funds. We are planning to procure many items which are urgently required for traffic monitoring systems. Like speed guns, mobile CCTV van for remote areas or bylanes, where number of offenders are more," he added.

Last year the traffic department earned approximately Rs20 crore through fines levied. The fines were deposited in the government treasury. About Rs17 crore was earned by levying fines for parking offences alone. Fines for drunken driving amounted to Rs3.21 crore, fines for driving without helmets netted Rs 2.17 crore, and fines for jumping signals amounted to Rs 2.25 crore.

Upadhyay added, "We are in desperate need of various equipment which can improve the traffic monitoring system. We need to have a large number of CCTVs to be installed at various points to control smooth traffic movements. Currently we depend on NGOs and social organisations to help us control traffic, which is not a good sign especially in a progressive state such as Maharashtra."

He said, "Currently we have 1,300 traffic police personnel including officers. We are contemplating to start echallan service, provided we have adequate force with us. We are optimistic that the government would think favourably about it."

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement