Crimes come down, but traffic violations on rise

Deccan Herald

4 days ago

Hubballi/DHNS: People in the City are happy with the police for their strict action against the criminals, which resulted in a reduction in crime rate. But, the same people are not happy with the police regarding traffic management system and demand for the strict implementation of traffic rules for smooth vehicular movement.Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissionerate has been taking swift action against the criminals for involving in robbery, murder, rape, theft and other crimes. Not only the police, even their active guns also planted fear among the criminals. But the traffic violators are not scared of the police.Many people violate traffic laws and continue to ride two-wheelers without helmets. Triple raids, jumping signals, wrong side driving, not using seat belts, and driving without license are common scenes here. But the police, who are busy in managing traffic in the absence of traffic signals, are not able to prevent such violations.Chaotic traffic management has been troubling other vehicle users, pedestrians and their safety. Pedestrians, especially aged people, women and children, find it difficult to cross the road. Footpaths have been encroached by hawkers and street vendors and people park their vehicles on the footpaths, which has forced the pedestrians to walk on roads.Defunct signalsThough there are signals at Vani Vilas Circle, Akashay Park Circle on Gokul Road, Bharat Mill, Kamaripet police station circle, and other places, they are not functional, and a couple of policemen along with home guards are being deployed to manage the traffic.Despite policemen at Kittur Chennamma Circle, Desai Circle, Railway Bridge on Gadag Road, Hosur Cross, Keshwapur Circle, the violators are not bothered to adhere to traffic norms.The police have installed automated CCTV cameras in several places to check traffic violations but still the traffic violations have not come down.However, for the 2024 calendar year, traffic police collected Rs 11 crore fine from the violators, which is the highest fine amount ever collected. In 2023, they collected Rs 9.41 crore, in 2022 police collected 8.07 crore penalty from the violators. Compared to the previous years, the fine collection has increased by more than Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore every year.Association of Consulting Civic Engineers former president Suresh Kiresu said laxity of police has led the public to neglect traffic rules, which has been causing problems in the City and it needs to be rectified immediately. The Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner should look into the traffic issue, take action to install traffic signals, clear footpath encroachment, repaint zebra crossing, and to take all required measures for smooth traffic movement.'Everybody's responsibility'Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) Raveesh C R said there are four traffic police stations in twin cities and they are working on smooth traffic movement in twin cities. As the number of vehicles are increasing, the number of violators also increases. We have been penalising the violators and collecting more than Rs 10 crore yearly. 'Traffic is a social responsibility. Everyone should follow the rules and regulations to save their lives and others as well,' he added.