Ahmedabad Police Book 2,000 Wrong-Way Drivers, Collect ₹33 Lakh in Fines After High Court Rebuke

20th July 2025 at 3:34 PM

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Ahmedabad Residents Pay Hefty Fines for Traffic Violations, Helmet Rule Tops Offenses Ahmedabad: Traffic rule violations in Ahmedabad have reached an alarming level, with thousands of residents being penalized daily. According to recent data from the city’s traffic police, residents collectively paid an average fine of Rs 79.76 lakh per day in the first 55 days of 2025. During this period, a staggering 6,54,651 violators were caught, contributing to a total fine collection of Rs 43.07 crore. Riding Without Helmets: The Most Common Offense The most significant portion of fines was imposed on two-wheeler riders for not wearing helmets. A total of 4,18,770 motorists were penalized for this violation, resulting in a fine collection of Rs 20.93 crore. Despite continuous awareness campaigns by traffic authorities, many commuters continue to disregard the helmet mandate, putting their safety at risk. Reckless Driving and Speeding Also Major Concerns Reckless driving, overspeeding, and illegal racing have emerged as other serious issues in the city. Police fined 57,482 individuals a collective Rs 10.07 crore for such violations. A senior traffic police official emphasized that stringent actions will persist against reckless drivers who endanger lives on Ahmedabad’s roads. Additionally, driving without a valid license remains a pressing problem. In the first 55 days of the year, 4,450 individuals were fined a total of Rs 1.02 crore for this offense. Officials expressed concerns over the ineffectiveness of repeated awareness campaigns, stating that strict penalties are necessary to enforce discipline among motorists. Even Policemen Not Spared In a surprising development, the traffic police’s crackdown also extended to law enforcement personnel. During a special drive initiated on February 10, a total of 186 policemen were caught riding without helmets and were fined Rs 93,000. Furthermore, 1,652 civil police personnel faced penalties amounting to Rs 82.92 lakh for the same violation. The Ahmedabad traffic police remain committed to enforcing traffic rules with increased vigilance and hefty fines. Authorities have urged residents to comply with safety regulations, stressing that following traffic laws is essential for reducing road accidents and ensuring overall public safety.

Following a stern directive from the Gujarat High Court regarding the city’s chaotic traffic, Ahmedabad police launched a massive crackdown on wrong-side driving on Friday. In a single-day special drive, the traffic police registered nearly 2,000 cases and collected ₹33 lakh in fines from motorists violating the rule.

The aggressive enforcement action comes after the High Court repeatedly reprimanded the state government and the Ahmedabad police for their failure to manage traffic and curb road encroachments. The court has been critical of the authorities’ inaction, prompting them to conduct periodic special drives.

This most recent crackdown was notable for its wide reach. While previous enforcement was often concentrated on major thoroughfares like SG Highway and CG Road, Friday’s operation was conducted across most parts of the city. Alongside penalizing wrong-way drivers, police also cleared encroachments at several locations to free up road space.

The drive was a direct response to a specific order from the court. On Thursday, a bench comprising Justice A.S. Supehia and Justice R.T. Vachchhani observed that accidents caused by wrong-side driving were on the rise, leading to the loss of innocent lives. The judges instructed the authorities to deal with such offenders strictly, directing them to seize vehicles and educate the violators about the law.