Nagpur has set a precedent in Maharashtra by initiating FIRs rather than imposing fines on individuals driving on the wrong side. Between March 4 and 19, a total of 265 FIRs were lodged, aiming to dissuade offenders who will now have to appear in court for bail. This stern approach follows a stringent remark from the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court division bench, consisting of Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri, emphasizing that simply issuing challans would not suffice in strictly enforcing traffic regulations.
According to media reports, Commissioner of Police Ravinder Singal highlighted a decline in road fatalities this year, with 76 deaths recorded compared to the previous year. Singal credited the focused crackdown on violations like wrong-side driving for this reduction has helped curb the number of accident deaths.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Shashikant Satao remarked that while e-challans are typically issued for such violations, the widespread occurrence of wrong-side driving prompted the decision to register FIRs instead. Nagpur stands out as the first city in the state to adopt FIRs against wrong-way drivers. The number of challans for wrong-side driving has doubled within a year, increasing from 3,957 in 2022 to 6,554 in 2023.