Bhubaneswar, Jan. 12: To curb chaos on the streets, police in the twin cities have adopted a two-pronged strategy - cracking the whip on traffic violators and conducting awareness campaigns.

However, question mark has been raised on the effectiveness of awareness campaigns as incidences of traffic violation registered a sharp rise in 2014 in the two cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

Last year, the commissionerate police collected Rs 2.56 crore penalty from 98,000 offenders. This is the highest that the police have collected since the commissionerate system came into existence.

In 2013, penalty worth Rs 1.29 crore was collected from around 87,000 traffic violators and Rs. 1.12 crore was collected from 76,000 violators in 2012.

Police said the increase in collection of penalty was due to strict implementation of traffic rules in the two cities.

'The increase in the number of vehicles in these cities over the years could be another factor behind the rise in violations,' said a senior police official.

In an attempt to make people aware about safe driving, a second traffic park was inaugurated at the traffic police station at AG Square here today.

The park will shortly have a 30-seat auditorium to educate commuters about traffic norms. Police said the auditorium would be functional in the next three months.

It will demonstrate techniques of safe parking of vehicles through audiovisual clippings.

'We are planning to give traffic violators a coupon, which they can show at the park and watch the film,' said a police official.

The city had a traffic park near AG Square in 1984, but it has been lying defunct for the last one decade.

However, the traffic park that was opened at the driving testing track in Chandrasekharpur continues to be functional. This park is spread in an area of one acre and is equipped with traffic signals, signboards and electronic simulator to help trainees understand rules and regulations.

It also has a theory classroom that can accommodate 50 persons at a time. The park also has a beginner motorcycle of 49cc to help students between the age group of 9 and 12 years understand safe riding.

'Students will be given priority in the traffic park. Violators will also be imparted training in the park,' said a police official.

The police will also make the CCTVs installed at strategic locations in the city this week. 'CCTVs would be operational at 27 locations in the city to keep tabs on traffic violators and problem mongers. We will also introduce automated traffic signals in the city,' said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.