Port Blair, Jan. 17: The Traffic Branch at Port Blair has carried out considerable hard work during the past year, and has gained the appreciation of the press and in the eyes of the public.

1. A total of 537 drivers were found intoxicated while driving a vehicle. They were arrested, their vehicles seized, challans sent to the Court and their names have been recommended for cancellation of driving license to the State Transport Authority.

2.  1,304 drivers were challaned for dangerous driving.

3. 898 for over-speeding.

4. 2,018 for obstructive parking.

5. 2,782 challans were issued for driving two-wheelers without helmets.

6. 1,259 STS and Auto drivers were detected without uniform.

7. 264 persons were not using seatbelts.

8. 381 were using mobile phones.

9. 495 vehicles were challaned for tinted glass.

10. 1,557 were challaned for stop line or traffic signal violations.

11. 1,349 were without driving licenses while driving.

12. 146 Autorikshas were detected with meters that were not working.

13. 1,105 defective number plates have been detected.

14. As against 21,388 challans in 2010, a total of 27,499 challans were booked in 2011. The fine amount realized has gone up from `45,89,000 to `61,92,000 rupees. Enforcement by executing 27,499 challans, is a tremendous achievement considering that the population of our islands is under 4,00,000 individuals.

The Traffic Police regulates 30 schools every day to ensure parking and child pedestrian safety. Many functions on Republic Day and Independence Day were organised. The roadside market at Aberdeen on these two occasions has also been regulated. There are also numerous other occasions such as Durga Pooja and Vishwakarma Pooja when long processions come on the roads. Two new pre-paid booths had been set up at Gandhi Statue and at Phoenix Bay gate and almost 3,000 tourists and members of the public have availed this facility. The traffic police has identified 10 parking places in PBMC area associated with Revenue Authority, six of these are at Goalghar near Andaman Residency, Prem Nagar, in front of Delanipur School, near Carmel via Central School, near Ayush Hospital, near Office of Director Accounts. One multi-storied parking near Netaji Stadium is under construction. The recent ITF was also managed in an exemplary matter by the implementation of a one-way scheme and by regulation.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of the Traffic Police has been in educating the public to observe the ‘Stop-line’ at intersections. Tourists and visitors to the Andamans have remarked that this is the only city in the country where this phenomena is seen. The Traffic Police has also engaged the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and they have started a comprehensive study starting on 13/12/2011 to arrive at solutions and re-design intersections.

The growing prosperity of our Islands is showcased by the number of new vehicles arriving every year. In the last two years, 14,901 vehicles have been added to the roads bringing the grand total to around 75,000 vehicles.

The Dy.SP/Traffic Shri N. Rasheed and the hundred and fourteen hard-working policemen, policewomen and Home Guards who are posted in the Traffic Police and who spend long hours standing on duty in the hot sun or pelting rain and who breathe in the exhaust of our vehicles deserve to be congratulated for their services to society.