Commuters violating traffic rules in the town area will have to cough up fines, much on the lines of cities like Patna.

A new system to regulate and strengthen the traffic system has been put in place in the town from Saturday.

The traffic police, armed with yellow-colour receipts (challan), have initiated a drive to discipline wayward motorists by penalising them on the spot if found defying traffic norms.

Besides issuing challans, cranes have been put in service to tow away vehicles that are illegally parked on the roads.

The police have also been provided siren-fitted motorcycles to keep a watch on traffic violators.

District magistrate Anupam Kumar told The Telegraph: “I have reviewed the traffic system and formulated a technique for effective results. The traffic congestion in Muzaffarpur has been annoying of late.”

The message from the district magistrate was clear that the offenders, including motorists found driving rashly, would be dealt with sternly. “They would have to cough up fines for their offences,” said the district magistrate.

He added that the strength of the traffic police has been increased adequately and personnel have been deployed at busy thoroughfares such as Motijheel, Saraiyaganj Tower, Companybagh, Sadar hospital road, Station Road, Kalyani Chowk, Jawaharlal Road and Akharaghat.

There are 15 such roads where the one-way traffic flow norm has been issued, he said.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Saurav Kumar said he had directed traffic officer Sailesh Kumar to put up signboards to inform people about the one-way roads.

The SSP added: “We have collected fines amounting to Rs 5,400 from offenders in a single day.”

The chairman of North Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NBCCI), Kailash Prasad Bhartiya, said he had requested the district magistrate to issue an order to the municipal corporation to stop lifting garbage by parking handcarts and trolleys in the middle of the road during daytime.

Hailing the decision of the district administration, Ambika Dhandhariya, a businessman, said: “The traffic police have done a great job by taking the initiative to slap fines on errant motorists. Hope this will discipline the commuters.”