Koregaon Park, a vibrant neighborhood in Pune, has earned the dubious distinction of witnessing the highest number of drink-driving violations in the city. Out of the 301 drink-driving cases reported in Pune between January 1 and October 1, 2023, a staggering 132 incidents occurred in Koregaon Park, according to data from the Pune traffic police department.
In response to this concerning trend, the police are taking a firm stance by planning to suspend the driving licenses of repeat offenders to discourage such reckless behavior. The areas of Shivajinagar and Kondhwa also reported a notable number of drink-driving cases, with 20 and 19 cases, respectively.
Vijaykumar Magar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the traffic department, expressed the department’s dedication to preventing drink and drive incidents in the city. He revealed that as of October this year, they had recorded a total of 301 drink-driving cases across Pune. Koregaon Park, Shivajinagar, and Kondhawa have emerged as chronic spots for such violations.
Magar emphasized that the police would take more stringent actions against violators to curb the occurrence of fatal accidents resulting from drink-driving.
Data shared by the traffic department showed that 74 cases were reported in March, followed by 53 cases in August and 49 cases in May. However, experts and citizens have expressed concerns regarding the enforcement of anti-drink-driving measures.
Vivek Velenkar, a member of the Sajag Nagrik Manch, noted that the police face challenges such as a shortage of breath analyzers and insufficient night traffic duty. He emphasized that regular enforcement and action against violators are essential to create deterrence among the public.
