Bhubaneswar: At a time when traffic cops seem to have exhausted all options of checking traffic violation on city roads, Keonjhar police has hit upon an innovative idea to encourage commuters to follow traffic rules.
Vehicle owners who are strictly adhering to the rules and carrying valid documents are being felicitated with a cash prize of Rs 100 and a certificate of appreciation by the police there.
The initiative has been rolled out from last Saturday and 50 such commuters have already been felicitated, Keonjhar SP Jai Narayan Pankaj told the Navbharat Times.
The entire objective behind the mission is to sensitize the people about traffic rules and to follow them, he said.
Under this initiative, a team of traffic police is conducting surprise checks at the traffic intersections and keeping a close watch on all two, three and four-wheelers. The team is also inspecting driving license, insurance papers, registration etc. A careful watch is being kept on vehicle owners using helmets and seat belts. The speed of the vehicle is also being watched and whether they are using mobile or have consumed alcohol while driving.
The cash prize is being handed out at the spot itself along with a certificate of appreciation, the SP said.
In 2018, 316 people had died of road accidents in Keonjhar district. The figure stood at 312 in 2016 and 254 a year earlier.
Recalling his encounter with the traffic police, a commuter said he got scared when he was stopped at the traffic intersection though he had followed all traffic rules. “I also showed all my documents but despite that the cops took me to the traffic booth. There, however, to my surprise, I was given Rs 100 and a certificate of appreciation for being a law abiding citizen,” he said.
