HC asks police of possible action against cyclists going off-track

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the UT police to specify whether cyclists pedalling away from the designated tracks could be proceeded against.

The query by Justice Amol Rattan Singh to Shashank Anand, Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), UT, came during the resumed hearing of the traffic regulation and safety case.

In response, the SSP assured the Bench that information to this effect would be furnished by the next date of hearing in the case.

During the course of hearing, the Bench was told that from July 24 to October 13, around 24,000 two-wheelers were challaned by the UT traffic police for driving on wrong side, wrong parking and driving on cycle tracks. Out of these, around 10,000 challans were issued against those found driving on cycle track.

The Bench was also told that people were being informed not to drive on cycle tracks. For the purpose, the police was taking help of NGOs and NCC cadets.

An affidavit by UT Chief Engineer Mukesh Anand, placed before the Bench during the hearing, said it would take four more months for completion of cycle tracks in the city.

The Bench also issued a notice to a parking contractor in Sector 17 for violation of traffic rules. Justice Amol Rattan Singh observed that during his visit to Sector 17, he found vehicles were allowed to be parked despite non-availability of space in the parking area.

The municipal commissioner has also been asked to file his response on the issue. He was, rather, asked to explain the capacity of the open parking area in Sector 17. The MC official was also asked to specify whether the contractor was allowing more vehicles than the capacity and whether the MC issued a notice to the contractor for violation in the past.

Justice Amol Rattan Singh made it clear that the court would not hesitate to order the cancellation of his parking licence, if any violation on the part of the contractor was found.

“The problem of traffic in the city is because of shortage of public transport system. There is need for bus service every five minutes to important places in the city,” the Bench asserted while asking the Secretary (Transport), UT, to file an affidavit.