106 fined during parade rehearsals

Violators make exchequer richer by more than Rs 1 lakh during 4 days. Jatin Anand reports.

In the run-up to the official Republic Day parade, hasty drivers on central Delhi streets made the exchequer richer by more than Rs 1 lakh. As many as 106 people paid more than Rs 26,000 as fines for lane violations and dangerous driving after being caught on camera during the daily dress rehearsals held near the India Gate for four days.

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“In the run-up to the Republic Day, traffic had to be halted temporarily, usually for about two minutes, to allow marching and artillery contingents to cross from one side to the other of C-Hexagon, around the monument,” said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

"On an average, nearly 26 drivers, heading from south to central Delhi, were challaned every day within this two-minute interval," Garg said.

According to the Delhi Traffic Police, violators were slapped with a fine of R1,000 each after being clicked as they formed a separate lane beyond the central yellow line in a bid to avoid being part of a vehicular pile-up on Rafi Marg, Janpath, Man Singh Road, C-Hexagon and Mohammad Ali Road. "To avoid being 'stuck' for a few minutes as the parade passed by, errant drivers would drive beyond the central yellow line, which divides these roads in two carriageways, and risk collisions with traffic heading towards them from the opposite side," Garg said.

While 36 violators were clicked violating the yellow line on the January 18, the number went down to 27 on the January 20, 26 on January 21 and 17 on January 23.