Mumbai Traffic: Stuck In A Jam

After a successful campaign cracking down on drunk driving on New Year's eve, Mumbai's Traffic Police plans to step up efforts to clear traffic mess.

Even as Mumbaikars welcomed the new year in high spirits the Mumbai Traffic Police Department ensured that the revelry didn't spill over on to the roads. It booked 523 cases of drunk driving on December 31st alone, a number lower than in the previous years thanks to the relentless campaign the department.

Mumbai's traffic with 24,64,276 vehicles in total has overwhelmed the city's people and its Traffic Department, which with 3,500 Traffic Police officials, is increasingly ill-equipped for the job. A growing disregard for rules, aggressive social behaviour and poorly paid traffic constables has resulted in a huge slide in Mumbai's traffic conditions.

The New Motor Vehicle Act will be an effective tool to control traffic discipline. It will be a milestone in the field of traffic control and transportation

The New Motor Vehicle Act, which the central government is set to table in the upcoming session of Parliament, will be a huge help to the traffic department, Dr. B.K. Upadhyay, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said. “We hope that the Act is implemented soon. It has a lot of additions, fines have been hiked. It will be an effective tool to control traffic discipline. It will be a milestone in the field of traffic control and transportation,” he added.

This Act proposes big fines for uninsured vehicles. If caught drunk driving, the offender will be fined Rs. 25,000 or face imprisonment for maximum three months, according to the new proposed Act. A second offence within three years will result in a Rs.50,000 penalty or imprisonment for up to one year or both and a year long suspension of the driver's license.