264 motorists penalised for stopping on MTHL for selfie and picnicking on Day 2
FIR will be lodged if violations continue, say traffic police
4 min read
Mumbai traffic policemen penalise violators on the sea bridge on Sunday. (Express Photo)As many as 264 motorists were penalised Rs 500 each on Sunday for unnecessarily stopping their vehicles on the newly Atal Bihari Vajpayee Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) for clicking pictures and picknicking, affecting vehicular movement on the sea bridge, police said.
Traffic police of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai have warned of registering criminal offences against motorists if they stop the vehicle on the sea bridge.
The 21.8 km-long country’s longest sea link between Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai and Sewri in Mumbai that was inaugurated by Prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday was opened to public on Saturday morning.
“Given the viral social media photos and videos about the sea bridge, people thronged it on Sunday for joyride and stopped in the middle of the bridge for taking selfies, blocking the lanes,” said an officer of Mumbai traffic police.
The bridge begins in Sewri, South Mumbai, and crosses Thane Creek north of Elephanta Island, and ends at Chirle near Nhava Sheva in Uran taluka. (Express photo by Pradip Das)
Some citizens shared videos and photos on social media of vehicles parked alongside of the bridge with people walking over the deck for taking pictures. Mumbai traffic police was also tagged in the posts.
Teams led by ACP Abdul Sayyed of south-central division and API Sharad Patil from Wadala traffic division penalised 120 violators, who were charged under sections 122 and 177 of the Motor Vehicle Act, said a senior police officer from Mumbai.
According to Tirupati Kakde, DCP, Navi Mumbai traffic police, “We have penalised 144 motorists on Sunday till 9 pm for stopping on the bridge. We appeal to the motorists to not stop on the bridge.”
“People should understand that vehicles pass by at a very high speed on the bridge and heavy vehicles also use it. One negligent act can lead to a big accident on the bridge, which is in the middle of the sea,” an officer said.
Ulwe toll naka at Sewri-Nhava Sheva Trans Harbour Link. (Express photo by Pradip Das)
Pravin Padwal, joint commissioner of police (traffic), Mumbai police, said that strict action will be taken against motorists for stopping vehicles on Atal Setu that will include charges under the Indian Penal Code. “We appeal to motorists to not stop vehicles and get down on Atal Setu. By doing so, people are not just endangering their own lives, but also of other motorists. We have informed MMRDA to put up ‘no stopping’, ‘no halting’ boards on the bridge,” Padwal said.
The penalty traffic police recovered from violators on Sunday was just Rs 500 as the offence is compoundable. “We also kept in mind that their experience of enjoying the travel on the country’s longest sea bridge is not spoiled,” an officer said.
Rash driving
The Mumbai police carried out a special drive and erected nakabandi at 108 places all over the city on Saturday night and checked over 6,000 vehicles for violating traffic rules. as many as 1,869 bikers were penalised for driving without helmet while 255 were penalised for riding triples. Apart from this, 85 cases were registered for rash driving.
A total of 138 motorists were booked under the Motor Vehicle Act for driving in the wrong direction. Action was also taken against 20 for driving under the influence of alcohol, while 153 vehicles were impounded for rash driving.
Mumbai traffic police officers penalise violators on the sea bridge on Sunday.
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