4,794 cases of drunken driving detected in Odisha

As many as 4,794 cases of drunken driving have been detected in Odisha by May-end this year and driving licences of 3,276 persons suspended in this connection, an official said on Wednesday.

Holding a review meeting here, Development Commissioner R. Balakrishnan directed intensification of the drive to check drunken driving and make the initiative more result-oriented.

He directed the concerned departments to step up mobile checking units, highway patrolling and make the actions visible on the roads.

Balakrishnan said road accidents not only cost lives but also causes loss to the economy of the state.

He directed the police, excise and transport departments to take action to check this menace.

It was decided at the meeting that highway patrolling teams and the traffic police would keep strict vigilance on drunken driving and would take strong action against the offenders.

The Development Commissioner advised introducing a special MIS format through inter-departmental coordination for more effective monitoring of the activities at the ground level.

Till May, Rs 51.30 lakh was collected as compounding fees and fines, said the official.

Transport Commissioner C.S. Kumar said RTOs and Police Commissionerate had been supplied with 80 new breath analysers.

Besides, Rs 15 crore has been budgeted for road safety this year.

--IANS

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