Police crackdown on loud horns, ‘road Romeos’ in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack

Twin City police in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have launched a rigorous campaign to curb vehicle noise pollution. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, drivers using high-decibel pressure horns and making unauthorised vehicle modifications are set to face financial penalties and confiscation of their noise-inducing equipment, official sources said on Thursday.

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The Commissionerate Police have been actively conducting strict checks at significant traffic nodes, including the bustling area of Vani Vihar. Passenger buses, notably those equipped with pressure horns, have been a focal point, with fines being issued to the violators.

Additionally, there has been a crackdown on the motorbikes sporting modified horns and exhausts, resulting in several devices being seized.

This initiative has been welcomed by local residents, who have long endured the din of excessive horn usage, particularly from buses. Commissionerate Police emphasised that this operation will continue across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to mitigate public disturbances.

According to the Traffic Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), over the past three days, authorities have confiscated more than 100 pressure horns and imposed substantial fines to prevent further infractions.

Some bus drivers argue that the pressure horns are essential in heavy traffic where other drivers fail to make way. Nevertheless, officials are standing firm, prioritising a reduction in road accidents and maintaining that safety takes precedence.

Similar attention is being given to issues like modified silencers, speed violations, triple riding, reckless driving, wrong lane driving, driving without pollution certificates, speed driving, and helmet laws, with penal actions being taken against offenders.

The police voiced concerns over the rising incidence of traffic accidents and plan to broaden road safety initiatives to enhance adherence to traffic regulations.

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Bhubaneswar DCP Pinak Mishra underscores the gravity by saying, “We will intensify the special drive in the days ahead. We have targeted to curb unruly driving on the road.”

Worth mentioning, the State has witnessed over 50,000 road accidents in the past decade. Following the advice from the Supreme Court’s Committee on Road Safety, the measures have intensified to safeguard road users.