look news india
The traffic police and transport department have taken forceful action under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) implemented to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida-Greater Noida) district of Uttar Pradesh. A special monitoring campaign was conducted within the last 7 months with the aim of improving the air quality of the district and controlling the dangerous pollution levels. During this intensive checking drive, punitive action was taken against a total of 5,059 vehicles violating GRAP norms, from which a total revenue penalty of more than Rs 52.93 lakh was collected. This strict action has created a stir among the drivers breaking the rules.
Joint teams of Gautam Buddha Nagar traffic police and divisional transport department (RTO) maintained 24-hour surveillance at major intersections, expressways and industrial areas in the district. During investigation, it was found that most of the challans were issued to vehicles plying on the road without valid Pollution Control Certificate (PUCC), truck-dumpers carrying construction material without cover and vehicles that had crossed the stipulated time limit (10 years old diesel and 15 years old petrol). According to officials, more than 3,500 vehicles found without PUCC certificates were challaned, while more than 800 overage vehicles were seized and the process of sending them to the scrapping yard has been initiated.
Vehicles are being monitored through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and mobile surveillance vans at high-busy traffic points like Sector-62 of Noida, Kalindi Kunj Border, Chilla Border, DND Flyway and Pari Chowk of Greater Noida. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Transport) has issued clear instructions that no commercial or private vehicle will be allowed to enter without valid standards till the stringent provisions of the third and fourth phase of GRAP remain in force in the district. Heavy fines are also being imposed on dumpers carrying uncovered material and trolleys carrying construction material, so that the air quality does not deteriorate further due to flying dust.
Gautam Budh Nagar administration and traffic police have appealed to all residents and motorists of the district to perform their civic duty in keeping the environment clean. Officials have advised people to get their vehicles serviced on time, keep the PUCC updated and make maximum use of public transport such as Noida Metro and city bus services instead of private vehicles. Traffic police say that the checking campaign will be made more strict in the coming winter months, so that the level of PM 2.5 and PM 10 in the air can be controlled and common citizens can get relief from poisonous air.