KOLKATA: Beginning Monday, particular models of Kolkata Site visitors Police, just like the anti-pollution cell and the particular raid part, will start one among its most formidable drives this yr — prosecuting autos violating any type of the honking rule within the faculty sector. Cops mentioned that whereas the rapid purpose of the drive is to supply respite to college students sitting for his or her Board exams from Monday, the ultimate purpose is to revive the significance of no-honking within the metropolis’s silent zones.
“The youngsters have a proper to develop up in a wholesome manner,” would be the motto of the drive, mentioned senior officers at Lalbazar. “Honking doesn’t pace up site visitors, and, other than being unlawful round colleges, it's socially uncouth,” mentioned DC (site visitors) Arijit Sinha.
“The anti-honking drive is a year-long marketing campaign. However we had not required it, particularly outdoors colleges, in the course of the enhanced restrictions when academic institutes have been shut. Nonetheless, when public transport steadily normalized, we discovered motorists having a decrease persistence stage. It has been most seen previously week outdoors colleges when everybody got here to drop off their wards. We acquired a number of complaints and determined to launch particular drives,” mentioned an officer from the AP Cell at Lalbazar that led the drive outdoors colleges final Friday that led to 38 prosecutions.
Motion is being taken underneath the West Bengal Motor Automobile Guidelines and Motor Autos Act. “We are attempting to inform drivers to not honk with out motive. In Kolkata, persons are susceptible to honk, however hardly ever use them on the crossings. It's seen as a instrument for overtaking. We are attempting to alter this mindset, even when the tremendous quantity is negligible,” mentioned an officer.
Essentially the most honking-prone zones within the metropolis, apart from the Sealdah-Amherst Road-Faculty Road-MG Highway academic institute zone, embody the Hastings space with a mean 176 instances a month, and the Taratala-Majerhat space with round 122 instances a month. Shyambazar, with 165 instances, and Park Road-Park Circus zone, with 98 instances, additionally reported many violations this yr. Each areas have a number of colleges.
A number of respected Kolkata colleges welcomed the police transfer. “Kolkata Police could be very useful in conducting easy site visitors stream in the course of the exams. Nonetheless, many individuals lack civic sense and regardless of the fines, they proceed to honk unnecessarily. We preserve posters in entrance of the faculties requesting passing vehicles to keep away from honking,” mentioned Supriyo Dhar, secretary, La Martiniere.
Some colleges have determined to assist the police transfer in their very own manner. “Proper after the pandemic, the tendency to honk has elevated. I feel drivers are overwhelmed by seeing so many autos and pedestrians after so lengthy. The noise air pollution could possibly be very disturbing for college students taking their Board exams. As an answer, our faculty has determined a few of our staffers will put up a board in entrance of our faculty asking drivers to take care of silence throughout exams,” mentioned Sujoy Biswas, principal, Rammohan Mission College.