Delhi-UP Drivers Face Heavy ‘Breakdown Fine’ on Noida Expressway

NEW DELHI: The Noida Police has introduced a new rule of imposition of fines, in a bid to mitigate the recurring obstruction bondage on the expressways. They've, in fact, classified the Noida Expressway as a zone for breakdown fine imposition. Per this rule, when any vehicle that breaks down and creates a hindrance to the free movement of other vehicles, the police are authorized to penalize and also confiscate the vehicle. This rule has been deemed important by the police as it is common to see vehicles having issues while driving on the expressway which results into traffic congestion. The Noida-Greater Noida and Delhi link, as well as the Yamuna expressway, is used by nearly 5 lakh people every day, which is quite astonishing.

As informed by the police, these fines will be imposed under 201 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which allows the circulation of penalties in case a vehicle or multiple vehicles serve as an obstruction to the flow of traffic. The fines can range between 5000 to 20,000 rupees depending on the severity of the obstruction. While addressing the media, DCP (Traffic) Lakhan Singh Yadav informed that due to the multiplicity of vehicles, movement on the expressway slows down considerably during peak hours. Coupled with the impact of breakdowns, the phenomenon becomes far worse. To relieve some of this burden, the expressway has been deemed as a zone for breakdown chalans.

Car drivers, in a private capacity, have nothing to fear.

According to the DCP, at the moment only commercial vehicles are being targeted. The fine has been in effect since February and in the first 10 days of it, almost 50 vehicles have been fined or frozen. Some vehicle owners, however, protest, claiming that they did not maliciously alter their motor vehicle, so there is no grounds for penalizing them.

May Also Be Able to Freeze Vehicle

If a car breaks down while the owner is cruising along the Noida Expressway, the traffic police will do the towing as well as the fine, said the DCP. The vehicle is also capable of being frozen if there are no fitness or any relevant documents. In general, when the traffic police are towing the vehicle away, they ask the owner or driver for documents. In this case, if all documents are not in order the fines will be levied.

Is It a Crime for a Car to Break Down?

Actually, according to the law, a car breakdown on the expressway is not a traffic offense by itself. There are also other reasons a vehicle can be penalized for. Hefty fines may be imposed for having a vehicle without a fit or registration certificate, pollution control (PUC) certificate, or even overloading the vehicle. Servicing of the vehicles and adherence to the emission norms as prescribed by the National Green Tribunal are also to be done.