India News

Mumbai issues traffic fines worth Rs 89 Lakh on New Year’s Eve: A Wake-Up call for road safety

Published

2 years ago

January 1, 2025

Mumbai traffic fines, New Year's Eve, traffic violations, road safety, drunk driving fines

As Mumbai ushered in 2025 with grand celebrations and a bustling atmosphere, the city’s traffic police were busy keeping a close watch on road safety. The result: a staggering Rs 89 lakh worth of traffic fines issued throughout the night. A total of 17,800 traffic violations were recorded across various parts of the city, serving as a powerful reminder about the importance of adhering to road safety rules, even during festive times.

Major violations and fines

Mumbai’s streets, known for their usual traffic chaos, saw a number of violations that continued to add pressure on the already congested roads. Some of the key violations recorded include:

Obstructing the Flow of Traffic: A total of 2,893 drivers were fined for obstructing traffic. These instances often cause severe disruptions, especially on New Year’s Eve when the roads are flooded with partygoers and celebratory traffic.
Riding Without Helmets: Helmets are essential for the safety of two-wheeler riders, yet 1,923 individuals were caught violating this basic traffic safety rule.
Jumping Traffic Signals: Another common offence, 1,731 individuals were penalized for ignoring red lights, further risking accidents at busy intersections.
Refusal to Use Public Transport: 1,976 instances were recorded where people refused to use designated public transport vehicles, contributing to unnecessary congestion.
Speed Limit Violations: Speeding remained a critical issue, with 842 challans issued to drivers for exceeding the speed limits, a potentially dangerous violation, especially on busy roads during the celebrations.
Driving Without Seatbelts: Despite being a fundamental safety measure, 432 drivers were fined for not wearing seatbelts while driving.
Drunk Driving: With alcohol often playing a major role in New Year’s Eve celebrations, 153 drunk drivers were apprehended, highlighting the ongoing issue of driving under the influence.
Mobile Use While Driving: Distracted driving continues to be a concern, with 109 challans issued for drivers caught using their mobile phones while behind the wheel.
Triple Riding and Wrong-Side Driving: 123 challans were issued for triple riding, and another 40 for driving on the wrong side of the road, both of which significantly increase the risk of accidents.
Dangerous Driving: Two offenders were charged with dangerous driving, a violation that can lead to severe consequences if left unchecked.

Total fines and enforcement measures

In total, traffic authorities issued Rs 89,19,750 worth of fines, underlining the scale of traffic violations on New Year’s Eve. The heavy fines were a result of vigilant enforcement by Mumbai’s police force. In anticipation of the large crowds and increased traffic, the police deployed a significant number of personnel:

8 Additional Commissioners
29 Deputy Commissioners
53 Assistant Commissioners
2,184 Inspectors
Over 12,000 constables

Ensuring safety amid celebrations

To ensure that New Year’s Eve was enjoyable yet safe, the police set up several checkpoints across the city, aimed at detecting drunk drivers and maintaining smooth traffic flow in crowded areas. Regular patrolling and surveillance were conducted, especially in locations where people gathered for celebrations.

While Mumbai’s traffic police worked tirelessly to ensure safety, other major cities like Delhi and Bengaluru also adopted similar measures. These cities increased patrolling and set up checkpoints to curb drunk driving and other traffic violations, ensuring that people rang in the New Year responsibly.

Key takeaways: What we can learn

The incident serves as a stark reminder about the need for responsible driving, particularly during celebrations when road traffic spikes. Some key points for road users to remember include:

Follow Traffic Signals: Ignoring traffic signals endangers lives. It is crucial to stop at red lights and wait for the signal to turn green before moving forward.
Wear Helmets and Seatbelts: Wearing a helmet while riding and a seatbelt while driving can prevent serious injuries in case of accidents.
Avoid Using Phones: Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents. Keep phones out of sight while driving to avoid accidents.
Don’t Drink and Drive: Always arrange alternate transport if you plan to drink. Drunk driving can have fatal consequences.
Respect Public Transport: Using public transport not only reduces road congestion but also promotes safer travel for everyone.
Obey Speed Limits: Driving within the speed limit is essential for maintaining control over your vehicle and avoiding accidents, especially in heavy traffic conditions.

The need for awareness

The fines issued on New Year’s Eve act as a wake-up call for road safety in Mumbai and other cities across India. While the festive spirit is important, the need to maintain law and order on the roads remains crucial for ensuring that everyone enjoys a safe and happy New Year. The police’s actions serve as a stern reminder that traffic rules are in place to protect us all, and violations will not be tolerated, no matter the occasion. Let this be a lesson for all road users to be more responsible and considerate while on the road.

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Gandhi Parivar vs Sangh Parivar, Revanth Reddy’s remark sparks BJP attack

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s remarks contrasting the Gandhi Parivar with the Sangh Parivar triggered a BJP response accusing Congress of prioritising the Gandhi family.

Published

2 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s remarks comparing the Gandhi Parivar and Sangh Parivar have triggered a political exchange, with the BJP hitting back at the Congress leader.

Speaking in Kerala on Friday, Mr Reddy described the contest over India’s future as a fight between the two “parivars”. He said the Gandhi family had made sacrifices for the country while accusing the Sangh Parivar of attempting to divide India on the basis of religion, caste, region and language.

What Revanth Reddy said

Mr Reddy cited Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi while speaking about what he described as sacrifices made by the Gandhi family.

He also referred to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, saying they had given up positions, power and high office.

The Telangana Chief Minister said he had no remaining personal political ambitions and described his objective as working towards a Congress-led government at the Centre with Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister.

Mr Reddy also appealed to people to stand with the Gandhi Parivar and oppose the Sangh Parivar. He described the latter as a threat to India’s democracy.

BJP hits back

The BJP responded to Mr Reddy’s remarks on Saturday.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the Telangana Chief Minister’s comments amounted to an admission that Congress’s objective was to bring the Gandhi family back to power.

He also linked Mr Reddy’s remarks to the ongoing political debate around “vote chori”, the Election Commission, the Constitution and democracy, arguing that the Congress’s focus was instead on the Gandhi family.

The exchange adds to the political confrontation between the BJP and Congress, with Mr Reddy presenting the Gandhi Parivar and Sangh Parivar as opposing forces in India’s political future, while the BJP has interpreted his remarks as evidence of Congress’s focus on the Gandhi family.

India News

India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

Published

8 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

India News

Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

Published

22 hours ago

September 25, 2026

APNLive Desk

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.