Provisions of the the amended Motor Vehicles Act 2019, under which steep penalty is imposed for traffic violations, will once again be implemented strictly in the capital now that the three-month breather offered by the Raghubar Das government is over.

A traffic cop deputed at Albert Ekka Chowk said the decision was taken after reports of regular accidents due to traffic violations started pouring in during the three-month reprieve period that ended on December 15.

In a bid to provide relief to motorists from paying hefty fines, the state government had in September last year asked them to get all their documents in order within three months while putting the provisions of the Act on hold for that period.

“Road accidents had drastically come down when the provisions of the amended Act were implemented in the city,. But during the three-month relaxation period, we kept getting regular reports of road mishaps. Therefore, it was decided that the Act would once again be imposed in a strict manner,” the traffic personnel, who did not wish to be identified, said.

Superintendent of police (traffic) Ajit Peter Dungdung confirmed the development.

“The government had realised that many motorists needed time to arrange their documents and gave them three months to do that. Now that period is over,” Dungdung said.

A traffic constable welcomed the move.

“Once this happens, accidents and traffic snarls will surely come down. PCR (police control room) vans, which now have to rush accident victims to hospitals, can concentrate more on crime control,” the constable said.

Another traffic police official, however, maintained that the hefty fines would burn a hole in the pockets of common people.

“The new Act should be implemented slowly and traffic personnel should be given the right to take a decision according to the merit of the case while dealing with the offenders,” the official said.

Social worker Nadeem Khan supported the traffic cop.

“The penatly is exorbitant. It should be made reasonable to ensure that people learn from their mistakes and not starve to death after committing it. The steep fine will also give rise to corruption as offenders may offer bribes to traffic constables and get away with paying minimum or no fine,” Khan said.