Patna: The motorbike and pillion riders in Bihar, who largely ignore the rule of wearing helmets, were in for an unpleasant surprise as the transport department clamped down on them yesterday. Even though some smart alecks thought that the police would be soft on them because of the  holiday during Raksha Bandhan, hopes were dashed!

The transport department carried out a helmet checking drive across the state in which 2,250 persons were caught and a fine of Rs 4,58,000 was collected.

“We are very serious about the helmet drive and I had earlier announced that random checking would take place in the state without prior information. The culture of wearing helmet is picking up in Bihar but there are some people who are ignoring norms despite repeated warnings. However, we will not sit idle until the culture of taking precautionary measures is fully adopted by the people of Bihar,” Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, transport secretary, told some mediapersons.

Helmet checking was conducted at several roundabouts in Patna like Dakbungalow, Income Tax, Boring Road, Jagdeo Path, Patliputra and Saguna Mor. Officials of the traffic police and enforcement sub-inspector of the transport department were deputed to crack down on such riders.

Sunday also saw a drive against illegal parking as well, and may ‘Rakhi festival revellers’ had to cough up fines.

Many vehicles were also towed from the roads in the presence of district magistrate Kumar Ravi. On Friday night too, Patna divisional commissioner Anand Kishor was on his rounds checking illegal parking from 9.30pm to 12.30am and 30 vehicles were towed from different areas with the help of six cranes.

Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Anupam Kumar Suman and superintendent of police (traffic) PN Mishra accompanied Kishor. Vehicles were towed away on Saturday as well when Ravi hit the road from Dakbungalow roundabout to JP roundabout in which at least two dozen vehicles were towed. The drive was part of the ongoing mega encroachment drive started from August 16.

On Saturday evening, Kishor was on inspection to monitor the encroachment drive carried out under Rajendra Nagar overbridge, Meethapur bus stand, Hartali Mor, Station Road, Patna Junction and Bypass Dhunki Mor.

During the inspection, Kishor issued orders to the official concerned to check the verification of the 32 shops found under the overbridge. In the west portion of the bridge, 16 cottahs of land was found encroached upon which Kishor ordered to clear immediately.

Many illegal vendors were also removed from under the bridge. Several illegal structures were also demolished on Saturday and FIRs were lodge against 35 people and a fine of Rs 2,89,000 was collected.

  bike, development, traffic