NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, JAN 29
An Ex-serviceman was booked for ramming into a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) enabled gate on the BRT track in Raikhad on Tuesday. The traffic police registered a case and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation slapped a fine of Rs. 1.5 lakh for damaging the RFID enabled gate.
Mahendrakumar Bakhiria, a 39-year-old resident of Nikol, was driving his car on the BRT corridor on Tuesday morning, when he crashed into the gate, severely damaging it.
“This is the first time the civic body has fined someone for damaging BRTS property. The civic body has never fined anyone for damaging property as those cases were accidental damage. However, this was a willful act of default,” said Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra.
Officials said Bakhiria, a retired Army jawan, had entered the BRTS corridor and was speeding. On finding one RIFD gate closed he tried to drive his car on the wrong side of the track to try to pass through the closing gate but crashed into it.
The civic body had installed some 40 RIFD gates to prevent private vehicles from entering BRT corridors across the city after two young men died in Panjrapole in an accident involving a BRT bus.
Police officials said a complaint has been lodged against Bakhiria for damaging public property. “Bakhiria has also been charged with violating other rules under the Motor Vehicles Act,” said inspector T R Rathwa of E division.
Officials said Bakhiria had broken the gate and drove negligently in a way that could have harmed others. Bakhiria was detained late on Tuesday evening, he said.
Nehra said a case has been registered under the prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The AMC has also asked Bakhiria to pay Rs 1.5 lakh for damaging the gate.
“A Supreme Court order empowers the civic body to collect damages from a person who wilfully damages public property,” Nehra added.
He said Bakhiria broke many laws like entering the BRT corridor, speeding, driving on the wrong side and damaging public property.
“He would have hit an old woman who was crossing the road at that time. The driver’s actions were callous and involved grave negligence. Henceforth, the civic body will recover damages from every vehicle that damages public property in BRT corridors,” Nehra said.
