The campaign against drunk driving in Bhubaneswar has been intensified, with 97 vehicles being seized.
Arpit Pattnaik
The Commissionerate Police of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack conducted an operation against drunken driving and reverse riding under the "Safe City Drive" initiative on Saturday night, August 31st, 2024. A total of 97 vehicles were seized during the operation, which took place from 11 pm to 4 am.
Several police stations across Bhubaneswar, including Capital, Kharavela Nagar, Badgad, Laxmisagar, Nayapalli, Sahid Nagar, Infocity, Maitri Vihar, Chandrasekharpur, Mancheswar, Nandankanan, and Traffic P.S. I & II, actively participated in the operation.
The notably successful operation resulted in the seizure of 97 vehicles used for drunken driving. Traffic P.S. I & II seized 52 vehicles, including high-end models. These included 19 vehicles seized by Traffic P.S-I and 33 vehicles by Traffic P.S-II, with some involved in reverse riding and dangerous drunken driving.
In one incident, a driver attempted to evade police by parking his vehicle on a bylane before a check post at OMFED, but the police team towed and seized the vehicle.
During checking, heavily intoxicated offenders did not stop at the check posts, and some even attempted to evade capture. One motorcycle and two individuals were arrested in these incidents.
Additionally, reports have been filed in court against 80 drunken drivers, and FIRs have been filed against 17 individuals who were heavily intoxicated and found to be involved in reverse riding.
The Commissionerate Police has recommended the suspension of driving licenses to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) for those found guilty of drunken driving. Offenders will be required to pay fines in court and obtain a release order before reclaiming their seized vehicles.
Twin City Police Commissioner, Sanjeeb Panda, emphasized the importance of road safety and urged the public to refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol. He also urged everyone to spread the message about the dangers of drunken driving and work together to ensure safer roads for everyone in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
