Gurgaon police aim for the record books: 15,000 traffic challans issued on a single day

On Wednesday, Gurgaon police had issued challans, or tickets for traffic violations, to nearly 15,000 offenders within a span of 14 hours, ostensibly setting a record for the maximum number of challans in a single day in India. Traffic rule violators were issued challans for offences like overspeeding, using mobile phones while driving, having black film on car windows, driving without a seatbelt and riding without helmets.

“Delhi police served 13,000 fines in 2014 while Bengaluru police’s record was over 12,000 challans in a day. On Zero Tolerance Day, as compared to a normal day when the number of ‘challans’ issued is in the range of 1,000-1,500, Gurgaon broke all records and it now deserves a place in the Limca Book of Records,” said Ashok Bakshi, Assistant Commissioner of Police (traffic), Gurgaon police.

In a well-planned and intensive drive to mark Zero Tolerance Day for traffic violations, as many as 1,500 policemen from various police stations, Rapid Action Force teams, 350 traffic policement and the entire city’s team of Regional Security Officers were deployed to catch offenders. “The drive started at 8 am on Wednesday morning and went on till midnight,” said Bakshi.

No one was spared, not even Gurgaon Mayor Vimal Yadav. His vehicle was made to stop near Hero Honda Chowk and he received a challan for not wearing a seat belt, said an official of the traffic department.

Interestingly, according to traffic policemen present at the 100 checkposts across the city, each were given a target of issuing 250 challans and were supposed to issue 25,000 challans in total. However, midway during the drive, the policemen claimed that they could not reach the target due to heavy rains and sandstorm, as well as a shortage of challan books.

Some of the most crowded spots in the city, including Sohna Road, Hero Honda Chowk and Rajiv Chowk, had even witnessed traffic snarls as police set up over 30 check points.

“The Zero Tolerance Day, a first of its kind, was aimed at ensuring enforcement of rules and regulations and setting the right examples. The police aimed to achieve record challans during the day and we will work non-stop across Gurgaon with the aim of issuing challans to everyone who break road rules,” said Road Safety Officer, Amit Kumar.

Of the 72 traffic offences listed under the Motors Vehicle Act, 1988, for which challans can be issued, the policemen were instructed to focus primarily on those who were jumping signals, driving without seatbelts, breaking the speed limit, using mobile phones while driving and parking in the wrong place, etc.