Nakabandi points in city increased

In the backdrop of two-fold increase in incidents of fatal accidents due to drunk driving this year, the Mumbai Traffic Police has decided to increase their nakabandi points by 10 to 15 points, taking the total figure to around 100 points across Mumbai and suburbs in a bid to ensure the last week goes without any untoward incident.

Also, due to the Janhvi Gadkar drunk driving fatal accident case, every point will have one or two women constables to crack the whip on women driving drunk.

Already 29 women have been arrested this year, which is more than twice the number of women arrested last year.

The Asian Age on October 20 had reported how fatal accidents due to drunk driving rose from four accidents last year in which four persons were killed to 11 accidents this year in which 12 persons were killed.

Milind Bharambe, joint commissioner, Mumbai traffic police said, “We have started asking every bar, pub and restaurant asking them to advice their patrons to use public transport or to use a driver. Also, we will be conducting surprise checks even in daytime in this week. Apart from the nakabandi points these surprise checks will be done at odd timings. These checks will be conducted in the early morning hours as well.”

Vitthal Jadhav, additional commissioner, Mumbai traffic police, said, “We asked for an additional 40 breath analysers as the number of people driving drunk will see a rise in the last week. Now, we have about 90 breath analysers.”

Tanaji Surulkar, police inspector, prosecution, informed that the number of drunk driving cases this year has increased.

Till December 20, about 16,643 cases of drunk driving have been made while in entire last year 16,130 people were caught for the same.

Arvind Shetty, former president of Indian hotel and restaurant association said, “Last year, we had put up posters outside all our establishments appealing patrons to avoid drunk driving. This time we have not decided on the measures yet. But it’s difficult to advice our patrons as our work is only to serve them.”