A scene at Cuttack’s Mangalabag that has been identified as one the places where no-tolerance zone rules will be implemented. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 24: Police have decided to act tough on commuters violating traffic rules at busy intersections of the city.

The police have identified four prominent intersections that would soon be identified as no-tolerance zones for better enforcement of traffic rules. A senior police officer said that Ranihat, Mangalabag, Badambadi and Khannagar intersections had been selected for implementing the no-tolerance zone rules at the traffic management committee meeting held on Tuesday.

“We have decided to strictly enforce traffic rules by introducing the no-tolerance concept after creating adequate awareness among the commuters,” said deputy commissioner of police Sanjiv Arora.

The no-tolerance zones would be introduced within 15 days and the public works department had been asked to ensure zebra crossings and other white line markings on the roads at the earliest.

The introduction of no-tolerance zones would entail strict enforcement of traffic rules and immediate action against violators. Motorcyclists can be fined for riding without helmets and more than two people riding a single two-wheeler.

Car drivers can be fined for driving without seat belts. Both can be held for over-speeding, crossing the white lines on the roads while waiting for a green light, using a phone while driving and driving on the wrong side.

This decision came in the wake of incidents of rampant traffic violations at various busy junctions.

“Chaos rules at almost every traffic signal and the traffic cops have failed to reign in violators. We hope that with the introduction of no-tolerance concept, such violations would come to an end,” said Sridhar Patnaik, a resident of Mangalabag.

Traffic sources said the introduction of a no-tolerance zone at the Mangalabag signal might be delayed owing to the existing traffic diversion for the construction work for the integrated sanitation project.

A large number of commuters feel that the no tolerance concept so far has been a failure even though the first zero tolerance zone was implemented at Satichoura signal in 2012. “So far there has been no change as traffic violations continue at the vital traffic signal as the zebra crossing markings are not visible while the delineators installed have also got damaged here,” said Kartik Das, a commuter.

Satichoura is one of the busiest crossings on Ring Road acts as connecting link between important destinations such as Bidanasi, CDA, Purighat, high court and Kanika Chhak. Senior traffic officials said the no-tolerance concept would be strictly enforced at Satichoura as well.