By IANS,
New Delhi : Delhi Police Wednesday warned of strict action against people driving dangerously and under the influence of alcohol in the national capital on New Year’s Eve.
“Police teams – static and mobile – will be present across the capital to check people driving under the influence of alcohol. We have set up pickets everywhere in the city and people violating traffic rules will be caught by the joint team of traffic police and district police,” Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat told IANS.
Police teams equipped with alcometers and breath-analysers will be deployed near pubs, malls and hotels as part of a drive to check dangerous and drunken driving on Thursday night.
“There will be a special focus on drunken driving in order to ensure incident free celebrations. Mobile vans will be placed in the capital for alcohol tests,” he said.
The fine for drunken driving is Rs.2,000 or imprisonment up to six months or both and for subsequent offences, the fine is Rs.3,000 or two years of imprisonment or both.
Last year, as many as 353 people were booked for driving dangerously and under the influence of alcohol in the national capital on New Year’s Eve.
Special focus will be on Mehrauli, Chhattarpur, Vasant Kunj and Kapashera areas that house almost all the farmhouses in the capital.
Certain traffic restrictions have been imposed around Connaught Place, considered the heart of the national capital that also houses many business establishments. Police Control Room (PCR) vans will also be pressed into service to ensure hassle free flow of traffic.
“No vehicular traffic would be allowed to move in inner, middle or outer circle of Connaught Place after 9.30 p.m. Thursday. Motorists are also requested to avoid that area. But there would be no restriction on public transport vehicles,” he said.
Security in the capital has been beefed up and extra police force will be deployed in various parts of the capital.