Motorcyclists on a Patna road. Telegraph picture

Patna, Dec. 12: Speedsters, watch out before you press the accelerator on Patna roads. Starting Tuesday, police will watch you with a “gun” in their hands.

Patna police will use the speed gun radar and breath analysers, at their disposal since April this year, to crack whip on rash drivers.

The police have also re-imposed speed limits for different vehicles on city roads. While most of the details are still being worked out, city west superintendent of police (SP) Upendra Sharma told The Telegraph today that cops deployed on the 2-km stretch from Hartali Chowk to Dumrao Chowk will start using the speed gun radar to keep a check on overspeeding motorists.

“Heavy vehicles, which also include school buses, should not ply at a speed of more than 20km per hour. Other vehicles like cars, bikes, autorickshaws should not ply at a speed of more than 50km per hour. The 2-km stretch (Hartali Chowk to Dumrao Chowk) witnesses a number of rash driving cases. The traffic police on this stretch will carry the machine to keep a check on overspeeding vehicles,” Sharma, who is also the traffic SP, told The Telegraph.

In addition to the speed gun, the cops will also start using the breath analysers from Tuesday in areas where on-shop alcohol stores are located.

Sources said, at present, Patna police have two breath analysers and one speed gun radar.

The breath analysers, also known as alcohol meters, are presently with the traffic DSPs.

Sharma admitted that these machines were lying with the police for the past few months.

“Despite having the speed gun radar, intercepting vehicles and catching hold of rash drivers would be difficult as there are no CCTV cameras on the roads which can automatically apprehend the registration numbers of the vehicles. Also, the speed gun radar with the cops is not a camera-enabled one. As a result, more policemen would be required to take rash drivers to task. Suppose, the speed radar catches an overspeeding four-wheeler. Cops deputed at different points will be informed about the same through wireless and they will be able to stop the vehicle,” Sharma said.

Sources had earlier told The Telegraph that a tender regarding purchase of these gadgets along with other equipment such as road dividers, plastic cones, portable dividers and computers was floated early this year and a Patna-based company got the contract and supplied all of these for a total cost of around Rs 11 lakh.

Police got the equipment in April this year but lacked the technical skill to use them, said sources. There were also complaints about the equipment not working during tests but Patna SSP Alok Kumar refuted all these allegations.

A fine of Rs 1,000 and vehicle confiscation awaits those who are caught drunk while driving. The fine for rash driving rests at Rs 1,000. The same has been raised to Rs 3,000 for rash bikers.