Citizen vigilantes in Hyderabad fight traffic rule breakers, help police generate 50,000 challans

Traffic violators can dodge CCTVs, but not the eyes of alert residents who are ensuring that motorists are fined for breaking rules. They are also helping in creating awareness to make city roads safer. Sunny Baski speaks to some of these residentsAmidst the lakhs of rule-breakers in the city, Hyderabad is now witnessing a surge in traffic vigilantes who have taken it upon themselves to manage traffic and instil civic sense in fellow denizens.Whether strolling on footpaths, waiting at traffic signals, or even driving their vehicles, vigilant citizens are ensuring that motorists who violate norms pay the penalties, even when they successfully avoid being caught by officials.

They are capturing photos and videos of offenders and sharing them on WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook with the respective commissionerates.According to records from Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda police, residents assisted traffi c police across the tri-commissionerates in generating 50,000 traffi c challans in 2024, resulting in penalties amounting to Rs 1.5 crore through social media. The public's involvement was notably effective in the Cyberabad police commissionerate.

From the total of over 15 lakh e-challans issued by this commissionerate in 2024, roughly 3% (44,000) were initiated based on citizens’ reports through social media channels.“We appreciate the increasing number of citizens stepping forward to assist us in enforcing traffi c regulations. Our doors are open to any citizen interested in collaborating with us. We consistently value feedback, recommendations on traffi c regulations and reports about our staff's misconduct, which we thoroughly evaluate before taking necessary actions,” said Joel Davis, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Hyderabad.Several traffic vigilantes TOI spoke to revealed that it is their real-life encounters and personal experiences that motivated them to take up this voluntary role of monitoring traffic.“As a vigilant citizen, I feel annoyed when I observe other drivers violating traffi c regulations. Upon witnessing instances of triple riding, vehicles obstructing free lefts, or wrong parking on roads, I immediately document these violations through photographs or video recordings.

I forward this evidence to the relevant traffic police authorities for appropriate enforcement action. This practice has become part of my routine due to the increasing frequency of traffic rule violations,” said V Pranay, who works with a financial firm in Gachibowli.Armed with body cam, techie fights traffic offendersLokendra Singh: Reported 3K violationsThe 25-year-old Lokendra Singh, an IT employee, has a routine completely different from that of a typical IT employee.While others go to the office armed with a laptop and an ID, Singh also wears a body camera before leaving home.

He monitors road users' adherence to traffic rules and reviews his camera footage whenever he spots traffic violations and forwards the evidence to authorities.

Be it wrong parking on the road, driving dangerously, or going in the wrong direction, this IT professional cultivated an interest in documenting traffi c offences after relocating to Hyderabad three years ago, where he observed widespread disregard for traffi c regulations.Singh mentions that his passion for traffi c education dates back to his school years. “The role of traffi c education is crucial in ensuring road safety. Eighty percent of the accidents are due to human error. It is essential for every human, regardless of driver or pedestrian, to be well-versed with end-to-end safety measures of road safety and traffi c education to maintain a safe environment on our roads,” he said.Singh added that he also visits various educational institutions to impart comprehensive knowledge on road safety, road etiquette, defensive driving, and traffi c education, empowering students to become ‘road scholars’ with a strong sense of civic responsibility towards road etiquettes and safety compliance on roads.‘Using social media to get violators punished, create awareness’Harsha Tulasi: Reported 100 violationsWitnessing many accidents during his graduation at Telangana University in Nizamabad, caused by poor understanding of traffic regulations, inspired 26-yearold Harsha Tulasi to establish Team Road Squad on the X platform and gain over 10,000 followers. He now actively participates in traffic management, surveillance, and enforcement activities and has helped in generating at least 100 traffic challans in the last few years.“I was talking with a tea stall owner about recurring accidents near a particular college and he just dismissed it as a routine occurrence. It is disheartening to observe how society has accepted accidents as a routine affair. This realisation prompted me to become actively involved in road safety and traffi c initiatives. As a responsible citizen, I felt compelled to ensure that people understand traffi c regulations and become aware of violations.

Rather than attributing blame to the govt or the public, I believe everyone should be knowledgeable about traffi c rules.”Through his Team Road Squad profi le, Harsha shares traffi c violation posts from fellow users on X to enhance their visibility to the police authorities. Additionally, he actively alerts departments about malfunctioning traffi c signals and other related issues that require attention.‘Suspend driving licence if challans are not paid’Ram B: Reported 80 violationsDuring a heavy downpour in the IT corridor, Ram’s car was struck by a reckless two-wheeler rider, resulting in multiple scratches on his vehicle.

When confronted, the biker shifted the blame onto Ram, and without evidence, the situation remained unresolved. This incident occurred in 2022.

Following this experience, Ram B, employed at a private company near Mindspace, fitted a dash cam in his vehicle. Since then, he has been consistently documenting traffic violations and forwarding them to both Cyberabad and Hyderabad commissionerates based on their respective jurisdictions.“Over the past two months alone, I reported at least 80 traffic violations through WhatsApp to the police authorities, encompassing instances of riding without helmets, wrong parking, and driving in the wrong direction. My daily commute between Kondapur and Ikea spans 10 minutes, during which I observe around 20 traffic violations each day. I remain uncertain whether these issued challans are being settled by violators,” he said.

Based on my experience in the US, driving licences were suspended for unpaid challans, and a similar enforcement system needs to be established in our country.‘Getting roads, damaged manholes fixed’Sai Kaushik: Reported 100 violationsAs a certified traffic volunteer with 100 hours of service, Sai Kaushik, who works with an insurance fi rm, observed a rise in wrong side driving incidents.Despite his involvement in traffic management since 2012, he initiated the practice of highlighting these violations through social media platforms only from 2019.“Every now and then, I dedicate an hour or two to monitor traffic movement in the Financial District, observing motorist behaviour, documenting violations, and forwarding them to police authorities,” he said.Additionally, Sai Kaushik actively reports hazardous conditions such as damaged manholes and poor road conditions that endanger motorists' safety.‘Impose heavy fine on wrong-side driving’N Chandra Shekhar: Reported 70 violationsUntil 2023, N Chandra Shekhar, a retired private employee from Kukatpally, used to travel like a regular motorist.

His life took a turn the day he met with an accident and sustained injuries after being struck by a vehicle coming in the wrong direction.“Since I met with an accident, my perspective on traffic behaviour has changed completely. I've become highly vigilant about following traffic regulations. When I encounter individuals violating traffic rules, I park my vehicle and spend 15 minutes documenting the violations. I then forward this evidence to the Cyberabad commissionerate.

This practice has been my routine for the past year,” Chandra Shekhar said.Chandra Shekhar, however, believes that the current Rs 200 penalty for wrongside driving is insufficient as a deterrent. “This violation should carry a higher fi ne, comparable to the Rs 1,200 penalty imposed for over-speeding and dangerous driving offences,” he said.He maintains detailed records of wrong-side driving incidents, complete with photographs and video evidence. He regularly submits these fi ndings to traffi c authorities, hoping for increased enforcement at these locations. His documentation reveals a pattern of violations primarily during rush hours, with two-wheeler riders being the most frequent offenders.