TRAFFIC CASH COW, AND HOW!

TRAFFIC CASH COW, AND HOW!
The swanky 16-km stretch leading to BIA is a speed freak’s delight and equally ‘fine’ — thanks to high-tech interceptors — for the traffic police
HEMANTH KASHYAP


Guess which stretch of road in the city is the highest revenue earner for the Bangalore traffic police? The statistics speak for themselves: as much as Rs 65 lakh has been collected in fines over the last 10 months on the 16-km highway leading to Bangalore International Airport (BIA).
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, DCP (traffic-west) Pandurang H Rane said, “This is one of the best driving stretches in the city. With six lanes and two service roads, it spells temptation for speedsters. Though the maximum speed permitted is 80 kmph, four-wheelers regularly touch anywhere from 120 to 140 kmph — a clear violation of the traffic rules. We get more money from this single stretch than from several other roads taken together.”
The traffic police’s buoyant collections on this stretch are in large part due to the deployment of two ‘interceptors’. These four-wheelers are equipped with speed guns that can detect an over-speeding vehicle 1.50 km away. The interceptors can also track vehicles that do not follow lane discipline. “In ten months, we have managed to book about 22,000 cases for over-speeding,” Rane said, adding that the highest number of such cases was seen in the Yelahanka and Chikkajala police limits.
The two interceptors are strategically deployed at the BIA and city ends of the highway. Each interceptor has a complement of five policemen and an inspector. A rearmounted camera tracks vehicular movements and captures images of erring vehicles. The constable operating the equipment alerts his colleagues, who flag down the erring vehicles and slap a fine on the drivers. “Even though it is a highway, 99 per cent of motorists stop when ordered to,” said Rane.
“It is quite a challenge to stop speeding vehicles. We have to be very cautious or else we could end up being mowed down,” said a constable attached to an interceptor that was parked near a traffic signal two km from the BIA trumpet interchange. Quite often, errant drivers refuse to acknowledge that they are at fault. “Some of them are very arrogant and continue to argue till we show them the digital evidence,” the constable said.
Recounting some of the bizarre arguments of motorists who are caught, Rane said, “Some even tell us: ‘Why have you constructed such a good road if you don’t allow us to drive fast? If you keep imposing penalties, we will have to travel in ‘tongas’ (horse-drawn carts).’”
But that’s an occupational irritant for the traffic police. To Rane, the BIA stretch is not just a money-spinner in terms of fines, it also serves as an excellent platform to convey the message of traffic discipline to city motorists.
INTERCEPTOR IS KING
Bangalore Mirror spent three hours watching the interceptor crew at work on the BIA road. We witnessed four cases that were handled impressively by the cops:
Uday Kumar from Chikkballapur was coming towards Bangalore and was flagged down for driving at over 100 kmph. He tried to argue that he had not crossed the speed limit, but changed his tune when he was shown the digital printout from the interceptor. “I didn’t know about the rule; the police should educate the public,” he said. The police pointed out that there were boards specifying the speed limit every 20 metres on the highway. Finally, he paid up.
Hyderabad-based Prof Chacko Chen, trapped by the interceptor, said, “You should extend the speed limit,” adding defiantly, “I am not paying the fine. I really don’t know about the speed limit. You have to leave me this time.” His wife joined in, saying they were unaware of the speed limit, but the police pointed to the traffic signboards dotting the highway and collected the fine. In contrast, another motorist, Prof Bhat, paid his fine smilingly, admitting that he was at fault. “Everyday I travel here and I know the rules. But I was forgetful today,” he said. Another motorist, Manjunath, was quite argumentative. “We have urgent business; let us go,” he said. He tried to use ‘influence’ by calling up someone, but the police did not budge. He was found without his driving licence and insurance papers and was fined extra.