Ranchi New Year Drive: Strict Action Against Drunk Driving & Over-Speeding Starts Dec 30

Ranchi: The administration is all set to carry out a special drive against over-speeding and drunken driving for next few days starting from Dec 30 to curb mishaps amid the New Year revelry. Deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri, who reviewed law and order readiness for Dec 31 and Jan 1 at a meeting on Dec 29, has also directed police to strictly seize vehicles on the spot if the drivers were caught drunk-driving or over speeding."Intensive checking will be conducted for those driving vehicles under the influence of alcohol. Such vehicles will be seized and drivers will be made to walk, and action will be taken as per rules. Similarly, vehicles found racing on the roads or over-speeding will also be seized and drivers will be made to walk in public,” read a statement from the administration on Monday.Similarly, the DC said that special surveillance will be in place to prevent incidents of eve-teasing, and harassment to women. “Directions have been issued for immediate legal action will anyone is caught doing so," said Bhajantri.He added that adequate deployment of magistrates and police will be done at all key places. “At picnics, activities like boating without life jackets, swimming or water sports pose risks of accidents. Also, considering the possibility of anti-social elements taking advantage of the situation, the district administration is deploying magistrates and police officers," he said.On the other hand, traffic SP Rakesh Singh said, “Patrolling would be intensified around the hotels, restaurants, pubs and other public places to prevent drunken driving in the city. We will use breathalyser to detect drivers under the influence of alcohol.”He added that police would also put up zig-zag barricades at several places in the city, including the Main Road and the Hamru by-pass, to prevent over-speeding.Deputy inspector general Dhananjaya Singh, who is also a member of the state’s road safety cell, stated that the period from Dec 15 to Jan 15 is considered dangerous in view of fog, cold weather and the New Year revelries. He said, “Instructions were issued to ensure helmet wearing by bike drivers and riders, and seat belts by car passengers. The districts were asked to deploy adequate personnel at popular picnic spots to manage traffic movement.”He added that vehicles should have proper lights, as it would enable drivers to spot obstacles on roads in time during the night.