3 working speed guns in 16 police districts: RTI

The Punjab Police has just three speed radars in working condition to check speed violations in 16 police districts across the state, information procured by Mohali-based RTI activist Amit Saini states. In nine of these districts, no heavy vehicle has been challaned for overspeeding in 10 years.

The information reveals that 800 people died in accidents involving private buses in Khanna police district in the last 10 years, while Roopnagar had the second highest number of deaths at 267. However, only four buses were challaned in Rupnagar while 150 were challaned in Khanna.  In Jalandhar, 198 persons were killed in bus accidents, but not one bus was challaned.

Of the three functional speed radars, two are at Barnala where 41 heavy vehicles were challaned for overspeeding in 10 years while the third is in Bathinda.

Saini had sought information related to the traffic police and accidents in the last 10 years from all police districts in Punjab. He received replies from only 16 police districts.