Bhubaneswar (Odisha): The road users, up in arms against levying of heavy fines under the amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act staged a protest and the police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd today.
The amended MV Act came into effect on September 1.
The commuters alleged the authorities were not checking documents of government vehicles and their drivers were not being penalised for violations.
They also detained few Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) buses and the Odisha Police vehicles alleging they were openly flouting the norms.
They asked a police team, which was enforcing the Act, to produce relevant documents of the police vehicle.
"Rules should be equal for everyone, no matter who you are. While the government vehicles are flouting the traffic norms, the police are imposing fines on general commuters. Everything is fine with traffic laws, but sudden implementation of the MV Act has triggered panic," alleged a commuter.
Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi along with other officials reached the spot to take stock of the situation. "We have not carried out any enforcement drive today. We understand the problems being faced by people. We are aware that it will take time and we are giving time to comply with necessary documents," said Sarangi.
"We are looking into five things -- three people riding a motorcycle, helmets, entry from the wrong side, drunken driving and the use of mobile phone during driving," he said.
Also Read: Baby girl among four injured in terrorist attack in J-K's Baramulla
Bhubaneswar (Odisha): The road users, up in arms against levying of heavy fines under the amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act staged a protest and the police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd today.
The amended MV Act came into effect on September 1.
The commuters alleged the authorities were not checking documents of government vehicles and their drivers were not being penalised for violations.
They also detained few Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) buses and the Odisha Police vehicles alleging they were openly flouting the norms.
They asked a police team, which was enforcing the Act, to produce relevant documents of the police vehicle.
"Rules should be equal for everyone, no matter who you are. While the government vehicles are flouting the traffic norms, the police are imposing fines on general commuters. Everything is fine with traffic laws, but sudden implementation of the MV Act has triggered panic," alleged a commuter.
Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi along with other officials reached the spot to take stock of the situation. "We have not carried out any enforcement drive today. We understand the problems being faced by people. We are aware that it will take time and we are giving time to comply with necessary documents," said Sarangi.
"We are looking into five things -- three people riding a motorcycle, helmets, entry from the wrong side, drunken driving and the use of mobile phone during driving," he said.
Also Read: Baby girl among four injured in terrorist attack in J-K's Baramulla
Bhubaneswar: Frustrated over strictly implementing of new motor vehicle act and hefty fine imposed on public, angry people in Bhubaneswar forced all the govt vehicles to show their fitness certificate, route permit, registration and pollution control certificates. The drivers of few govt vehicle left the place to save themselves from the angry public. Tension gripped in the areas following protests by the locals in Rajmahal Chowk in Bhubaneswar. Police force rushed to the spot to control the situation. Police resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the mob. According to latest reports, siutation is tense but under control.
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