Chennai Traffic Police collects over Rs 2 crore in fine from motorists not wearing masks
Shilpa Nair | Reporter
According to Dr J Radhakrishnan, special nodal officer for Chennai, depsite the regulations, 10%-15% people in the city do not wear masks, thereby putting the rest of the population at risk.
![Chennai Traffic Police collects over Rs 2 crore in fine [Representative image]](https://imgk.timesnownews.com/story/EUf18XsVAAIrTLE_1_1.jpg?tr=w-600,h-450,fo-auto "Chennai Traffic Police collects over Rs 2 crore in fine [Representative image]")
Chennai Traffic Police collects over Rs 2 crore in fine [Representative image] | Photo Credit: ANI
Key Highlights
- With 19,826 COVID-19 cases, Chennai is the worst affected district in Tamil Nadu
- Chennai Corporation has been distributing free face masks, especially in the vulnerable areas
- Chennai Police Traffic Commissioner A Arun has urged public to wear masks when they step out of their homes
Chennai: At a time when Chennai has been recording a high surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police have collected a total of Rs 2.20 crore in the last 15 days from motorists as a penalty for not wearing face masks.
On April 13, Chennai Corporation had made it mandatory for citizens stepping out of their homes to use a face mask. Cracking down on the violators, the Chennai Traffic Police have booked 44,139 persons between May 22 to June 5 under Section 179 of the Motor Vehicles Act, an offence punishable with fine which may extend to Rs 500. As per the data released by Chennai traffic police, they have collected a total of Rs 2,20,69,500 as fine amount in the last 15 days.
With 20, 270 cases, the South region of Chennai recorded the maximum number of violations and over Rs 1 crore was collected as penalty from South zone alone.
The Tamil Nadu government and several medical experts have been repeatedly highlighting the importance of wearing a face mask in the time of coronavirus pandemic. With Chennai inching close to 20,000 COVID-19 cases, officials have been taking a slew of measures to contain the spread of the infection. Despite several awareness campaigns and Chennai Corporation distributing free face masks to people, especially in the vulnerable areas, a significant number of citizens still don't wear masks when they step out of their homes.
Dr J Radhakrishnan, special nodal officer for Chennai, has been aggressively promoting the concept of "herd masking" along with hand washing and social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Speaking to the media recently, Dr Radhakrishnan said that despite all their efforts and regulations, 10 per cent- 15 per cent people in Chennai are still not wearing face masks in public places and as a result, they are putting the rest of the population at risk. He also stressed that a behavioural change among people is the need of the hour.