Worli traffic cops fan out around Phoenix mills with breathalysers to ensure tipplers visiting waterholes there don't drink and drive

There is no escape. Party hearties who plan to bring in the New Year at one of the four pubs at Phoenix Mills will have to abandon all plans of sneaking into the car and driving home without being caught for drink driving.

Traffic cops have relocated their drink driving patrolling bases to the city's nightlife hotspots like Phoenix to catch revellers behind the wheel.
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The move has netted 120 per cent more catches. The traffic police will now be holding nakabandis equipped with breathalysers at all exit points to the suburbs and to the city from Phoenix.
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They include one at Worli Naka, Saat Raasta (Agripada police station), Mahalaxmi Race Course and below Elphinstone bridge.

Foolproof: The police will have nakabandi in these five spots, which are exits to the suburbs and south Mumbai from Phoenix Mills. If a person escapes one nakabandi, he can be caught within five minutes, as policemen will warn their fellow cops ahead on wireless radio.

According to the traffic police, a person escaping one nakabandi can be caught in five minutes, as policemen will warn fellow cops ahead on wireless.

Dissatisfied with the number of drink driving cases at Mahalaxmi, the Worli traffic department decided to experiment and move the patrolling base from Mahalaxmi to Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, which has four popular watering holes.

A senior Worli traffic police official said, "We made the move four days ago and we can already see the difference.

Earlier, on regular days, we would catch seven to eight drunk drivers per drive at Mahalaxmi junction, but now we catch at least 15 per night."

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The Mumbai traffic police started the campaign against drink driving on June 20, 2007.

Traffic police officers conduct drives on fixed days of the week and special drives on other nights such as New Year's eve at over 100 points in the city.

"We have 38 points in the city where we usually conduct the drive. Though we hardly have a repeat case, there has been no drop in the number of cases of drink driving," added the official.



541
Number of people caught for drink driving on the night of December 31, 2008

10u00a0
Number of constables, including two police officers (figures depend on traffic density), per nakabandi

2
Number of breathalysers per nakabandi

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Two-wheelers will not be allowed between 10 pm and 7 am

Did you know?
The Mumbai Traffic Police has registered 41,539 drink driving cases since 2007.

Over 2,000 Cops on the Streets

"We will conduct nakabandis with the help of the local police. The drives will start at 7 pm on December 31 and will be on till 2.30 am on January 1. u00a0 Nearly 250 traffic police officers and 2,600 men from the u00a0department will be on the roads to ensure smooth flow of traffic," said Sanjay Barve, u00a0joint commissioner of police (traffic). Drink driving ruling harsh: HC While hearing charges of u00a0drink driving against a u00a0motorist, the Bombay High Court ruled that the crime u00a0was not severe enough to warrant a punishment of u00a010-month suspension of u00a0licence and 25 days' simple imprisonment. However, cops said that the court's ruling u00a0will not affect their campaign.u00a0 In fact, they hope to raise u00a0the maximum penalty amount at Rs 2,000, as they believe u00a0it is not enough ofu00a0au00a0deterrent. Read Next Story Abhay Deol can't listen to music anymore› Trending Stories Latest Photos Latest Videos Latest Web Stories ADVERTISEMENT Mid-Day Fast ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT