725 caught for drink-driving on Holi

MUMBAI: Traffic police caught 725 persons for drink-driving in 24 hours during Holi on Thursday. In 2018, 375 were nabbed, while in 2017, 317 were stopped and fined. Another 223 persons were caught by local police across the city for similar offences on Thursday, while the figure was 368 the previous year.

Till 8pm on Thursday, 166 were held for rash driving, 430 for over-speeding, 789 for riding triple seat and 3,827 for other traffic violations. Also, 4,738 bikers were held for riding without helmet. Overall, 10,675 cases of traffic violation were registered in the city during the drive, that started on Wednesday night. Last year, the figure was 11,018.

The rise in cases was due to police presence at important junctions. Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Amitesh Kumar said, "An intense drive was held across the city, primarily on issues like drink-driving, helmetless riding, over-speeding and rash driving. No major accident was reported till late on Thursday."

At least 40,000 personnel were on bandobast duty across the city to tackle any untoward incident from Wednesday evening till late Thursday. Mumbai Police spokesperson, DCP Manjunath Singe said, "We deployed proper security to curb any nuisance during the festive season. The maximum number were booked for riding without helmet and drink-driving."

A police officer said precautionary measures, like formation of anti-eve-teasing squads, night patrolling, citywide nakabandis and deployment of women constables were taken to maintain law and order.

While the number of cases registered by traffic police was 4,621 in 2017, against 5,355 in 2018, the increase can be attributed to the presence of more officials on the streets and easy of issuing e-challans to offenders.

Meanwhile, Thane traffic police have registered 1,000 drink-driving cases during Holi. Navi Mumbai traffic police carried out a two-day drive against drink-driving and booked 146 persons, mostly bikers. Most cases were registered by Rabale, Mahape , Kalamboli and Panvel traffic units under which Thane-Belapur and Sion-Panvel highways come.