Jammu, September 6: Revised traffic rules, which include heavy penalties for violations, have still not been implemented in Jammu and Kashmir which is going to become a Union Territory on October 31 post abrogation Art 370.
Though the traffic police are seen challaning violators, the procedure taken up is still the old one where violators are challaned on the spot or issued a court notice.
“We have not yet got the official order to challan violators under the new rules, but the conventional system of challaning defaulters is still in practice,” said a traffic policeman deployed at Kachhi Chawni. He said according to the rules prevalent in the state, the vehicle driver is challaned for missing documents, using mobile while driving or not wearing a helmet or a car seat belt.
“Challans vary from Rs 100 to Rs 500 as per the nature of the violation,” said the policeman.
Similar is the case with auto-rickshaw drivers most of whom do not have calibrated meters installed on their vehicles and charge passengers at their own whims and fancies. “There are government orders for the auto-rickshaw drivers to abide by the norms. Found guilty, we challan them also. However, we hardly receive any complaint from passengers about overcharging,” said the traffic cop.
Joginder Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), said the department was waiting for the government’s official order.
“Though new rules have been enforced regarding penalties and the amount of fine to be charged for various violations, yet we are waiting for the government’s official order in this regard,” he said.
An auto-rickshaw passenger, who had to shell out a big amount for a small journey from Kacchi Chawni to Indira Chowk, said he had to pay exorbitant fare as the driver could not produce the fare list and the vehicle was without meter.
According to the Transport Department, the meter-down charges have been fixed at Rs 33 for first 2 km and Rs 14 per additional kilometer.
The government has asked auto-rickshaw drivers to abide by the norms. Found guilty, we challan them also. However, we hardly receive any complaint from passengers about overcharging.— Traffic policeman
