Rs 2,000 fine for driving on Games lane

The government will invoke special provisions in the law in a bid to ensure that no vehicle encroaches into lanes earmarked for the exclusive use of athletes and delegates during the Commonwealth Games. Those caught driving in the Games lane will have to cough up a fine of Rs 2,000 and could have their vehicles impounded.

The prosecution will be carried out under section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which pertains to the "power to restrict the use of vehicles". The law provides that the state government or an agency authorised by it can prohibit or restrict the movement of vehicles on a specified area or road. The section invites a penalty of Rs 2,000, which is substantially higher than what the police would otherwise charge for lane violation (a fine of Rs 100).

The move follows concern in the government that other vehicles would drive into the dedicated Games lanes being created on numerous stretches, especially on roads that are narrow.

The cops, however, don't have the powers to prosecute under the special provision and require a go-ahead from the state government. "We have written to the transport commissioner to invoke the special provision so that we can prosecute vehicles for violating the Games lane. It was felt that the normal fine would not be deterrent enough," said Ajay Chadha, Special Commissioner of Police (traffic).

Sources in the transport department revealed that the request will be acceded to and the provision will be in force before the Commonwealth Games in October. With key projects like Intelligent Traffic Signals (ITS) not coming up before the Games now, traffic management is a major cause for worry for the cops. It's felt that major roads such as Sardar Patel Marg and Kamal Attaturk Marg, which even on normal days are choc-a-blok with traffic, would turn into major bottlenecks during the Games if one of the two lanes is reserved for Games vehicles. "If there is just one lane for all the normal traffic to flow, motorists are bound to flout the rules and stray into the dedicated lane. A heavy penalty is the only deterrent," sources said.

Though the traffic police is planning trial runs for dedicated Games lanes from next week, officials said that there will be no prosecution to begin with. "The idea is to first sensitize people to the new rule and educate them about the lane markings and discipline. In subsequent weeks, the prosecution will start and will be followed very stringently during the Commonwealth Games," said an official.