Hartali Mor would be the first 'no-tolerance zone' for traffic rule violation in the city from Thursday.

In simpler terms, officers on duty in the area, which witnesses massive traffic pressure throughout the day, will be intolerant towards any form of traffic rule violation.

Traffic superintendent of police Prantosh Kumar Das said more such key areas and junctions would be declared as no-tolerance zones in the future.

'The divisional commissioner convened a meeting four days ago. The meeting, chaired by Patna commissioner, discussed the ways to improve traffic situation in the city. In the same meeting, it had been directed that some important places in the city should be declared as no-tolerance zones when it comes to traffic rule violations. The directive has been taken seriously and the Hartali Mor area along the Bailey Road, located near Pant Bhavan, has been declared as the maiden no-tolerance zone,' Das added.

He said one inspector-rank officer along with a special team would be present on the spot from Thursday to look into traffic movement in the area.

'Besides them, district transport officer, officials of road and transport authority and I will visit the spot time and again to oversee the traffic situation and will impose fines on violators. Even petty traffic violations, like not wearing a helmet, will witness immediate penalty and none will be spared. The idea is to have zero tolerance in that particular area towards those breaking traffic rules,' he added.

The men in uniform added that the spots would keep on changing.

'It had been asked to us that more than one spot in the city should be converted into no-tolerance zones. However, the traffic police have the problem of manpower and hence it will be difficult for us to implement it everywhere. This spot has been chosen as it is spacious and is an important four-side crossing of the city,' Das added.

'We decided to skip Dakbungalow as it also witnesses very heavy vehicular flow and with the police detaining violators, the area can witness a jam considering that the area does not have much space to keep the impounded vehicles. However, we have decided that the spots will keep on changing. For example, the drive will continue for seven days to a fortnight at Hartali Mor. Then the team will shift to another key location. The catch here lies that the change of location will not be announced to the people. This will give them a chance to improve and respect the traffic rules,' Das said.

The motorists also commended the decision. 'This is something new that the police are trying but the success of the plan depends on the attitude of the policemen stationed on the spot. If he is serious, things will definitely improve. Patna witnesses many traffic violations everyday and it is important and necessary for the police to become sincerely strict,' said Kamlesh Kumar, a resident of Boring Road.

#Several cities in the country, and across the world obviously, have witnessed a huge difference after zero tolerance attitude had been adopted by the lawkeepers on road.

In New Delhi, which experiences huge traffic pressure all through out the day, at least six such zero tolerance zones exist whereas in cities like Bangalore and Pune, such areas on congested roads have disciplined motorists.

'After the police came up with the zero tolerance zones, our city drives have become smoother with less problem and minimum rogue drivers,' said Sushant, a resident of Kankerbagh and a software engineer working in Bangalore at present.