Silence please: Honking outside hospitals to invite Rs 1,000 fine

To ensure that patients admitted to various hospitals are not harassed due to honking on roads around these establishments, the police have decided to step up efforts to curb the practice.

To ensure that patients admitted to various hospitals are not harassed due to honking on roads around these establishments, the police have decided to step up efforts to curb the practice.

Members of an NGO and traffic cops launching a no-honking drive opposite the PGI in Chandigarh on Saturday.(Karun Sharma/HT Photo)

A first-time offender will have to pay Rs 1,000 fine for honking in a ‘No-honking zone’. The second offence would invite a fine of Rs 2,000 fine and he could also be prosecuted.

However, before the system is implemented, the traffic police, in association with an NGO — Peedu’s People — will launch a 15-day awareness drive.

A traffic awareness campaign by a local NGO and Chandigarh traffic police in front of GMCH 16, Chandigarh. (Karun Sharma/HT Photo)

Initially, a five-member team including two traffic cops and three members of the NGO will stand outside three city hospitals — the PGI, GMCH-32 and GMSH-16 — with posters and banners.

SSP (traffic) Maneesh Chaudhary said, “A team of five people will be deployed to create awareness outside the PGI.” NGO director Inder Sandhu said, “I am glad that SSP traffic has supported us as he has also provided us cops.”

Dr Rajesh Kumar, head, school of public health, PGIMER, said “Noise pollution creates problem not only for patients but for general public as well. People should not honk.”