1,500 fined in Fbd for flouting traffic norms in one day

GURGAON: Police issued challans to 1,539 people in a day for violating traffic norms in Faridabad. Those challaned included 10 people driving ‘jugaad’ vehicles — modified two-wheelers used for transporting goods.
Violators were fined a total of Rs 7.5 lakh for offences like wrong-side driving, driving without helmet or seatbelt, rash driving and driving jugaad vehicles in a one-day special campaign led by DCP (traffic) Amit Yashvardhan on Wednesday.Of this, fines amounting to around Rs 1.8 lakh were imposed on drivers of jugaad vehicles, traffic cops said.
“Keeping in view commuters’ safety, the traffic police of Faridabad have launched a special campaign in which jugaad vehicles running in the city will be seized,” an officer said.
Mostly used to ferry goods or even passengers locally, jugaad vehicles plying on roads is a common sight in the area.
The rods affixed to the sides pose safety risks to other vehicles, traffic cops say. Moreover, jugaad vehicles don’t have number plates and are not registered with the transport department, making it difficult for cops to trace them in case of a mishap. Unregulated and with no pollution checks, such vehicles are a major cause of pollution in Faridabad, cops said.
“An old scooter can be modified into a jugaad vehicle by investing as little as Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. It can last for around five years if used carefully,” an officer said.
Strict action will be taken against those found using jugaad vehicles, cops said.