Cuttack, Jan. 12: Penalty collected from traffic violators in the city will now be used for the benefit of residents.

The state government has decided to spend 25 per cent of the fine collected from traffic violators towards the improvement of the city's traffic infrastructure.

The decision was taken following an Orissa High Court order, issued over one-and-a-half years ago, directing the state government to provide 50 per cent of the fine collected in Cuttack for the city, said a senior home department official on condition of anonymity.

The government has further decided to allocate 25 per cent of the fine collected in Bhubaneswar towards the improvement of traffic infrastructure in the capital city, the official said.

"We are aware of such a decision, but we are yet to receive any order till date," deputy commissioner of police (Cuttack) Sanjeev Arora told The Telegraph today.

The HC bench adjudicating on public interest litigations related to civic problems in Cuttack had specified that DCP (Cuttack) should spend the amount according to the decision taken by the traffic management committee headed by the police commissioner.

The committee had moved the HC for allocation of funds for vehicles, cranes and scientific gadgets from the penalty collected from traffic violators.

Assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Cuttack, Pradeep Kumar Dalai said: "Sustained traffic enforcement and improvement of traffic infrastructure are a necessity for the city. But it is not possible to improve the present situation with the available resources. In this situation, allocation of funds from the fine amount collected assumes vital significance."

Dalai said: "The Cuttack urban police department collects Rs 2 crore to Rs 2.5 crore a year by way of fines from traffic offences under The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and The Orissa Urban Police Act, 2003."

On August 1, 2014, the court had directed the state government to allocate 50 per cent of the fine in a separate fund under the control of the DCP or the transport commissioner for road safety and improvement of the traffic system.

The court on October 31, 2014, directed the Cuttack regional transport officer to deposit 50 per cent of the penalty collected in a SBI savings bank account, to be operated jointly by the RTO and the DCP.

"As the government has till date issued no direction to comply with the order, the matter will be brought to the notice of the HC bench adjudicating on PILs related to civic problems in Cuttack this week," said traffic committee member advocate Jaydip Pal.