Gurugram Police penalised 24,047 drivers for not wearing seat belts between January 1 and November 30, collecting fines amounting to ₹2.41 crore, officials said on Sunday. The intensified drive, aimed at improving road safety and reducing accidents, highlights the importance of seat belt use, which ensures proper airbag deployment during collisions, police added.
Despite these enforcement measures, road accidents continue to claim lives in Gurugram, often affecting innocent drivers, police said (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)
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According to police, the fine for not wearing a seat belt is ₹1000 for the first violation and same for repeat offenders. However, multiple violations may even lead to two years of imprisonment, police said.
Around 80% of violators have paid fines so far, according to police estimates. They added that the remaining 20% of violators are waiting for Lok Adalat sessions to settle the fines as it often gets reduced through courts, officials said.
”Many fatalities in road accidents occur due to drivers not wearing seat belts. We aim to make Gurugram’s roads safer and prevent avoidable loss of life. Wearing seat belts should become a habit for every vehicle occupant,” said Virender Vij, deputy commissioner of police (traffic).
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Despite these enforcement measures, road accidents continue to claim lives in Gurugram, often affecting innocent drivers, police said. To complement the campaign, the police conducted 553 road safety awareness programs this year, reaching nearly 98,000 people, including students, they added.
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Despite these enforcement measures, road accidents continue to claim lives in Gurugram, often affecting innocent drivers, police said. To complement the campaign, the police conducted 553 road safety awareness programs this year, reaching nearly 98,000 people, including students, they added.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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