Bhubaneswar: A day after Chief Minister Navaeen Patnaik directed the enforcement agencies to go soft on traffic rule violators in Odisha, police distributed free helmets to offenders at Kalpana Square here on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the awareness drive on traffic rules by the Twin City Commissionerate Police launched in the Odisha capital a couple of days ago, was also extended to Cuttack.
The campaign was initiated following a face-off between police and public over hefty fines under the new Motor Vehicle Act, 2019.
As a part of the sensitisation driver, Traffic DCP Sagarika Nath and a few celebrities were seen giving flowers, chocolates and leaflets to law-abiding commuters at Madhupatna Chhak in the Millennium City.
Nath said that the awareness drive, which began at important junctions in the cities, will soon be extended to other areas. “The MV Act is being enforced for the safety of the denizens and not for revenue generation. I am happy to see people in Cuttack wearing helmet,” she said.
As directed by Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi, fine is being imposed for five types of violations – drunken driving (zero tolerance), use of mobile phones during driving, driving on wrong side of road, triple riding and non-usage of helmets and seat belts, she said, urging people to ready all the required documents at the earliest.
