New Delhi - More than 3,000 drivers were fined for honking in India's busy financial hub Mumbai on Monday, as the metropolis observed a "no honking day" to mark World Health Day, news reports said. A request by the Mumbai's traffic police to motorists to avoid using horns as noise pollution was affecting people's health failed to have the desired effect as it was cacophony as usual on the city roads.
With about 1.5 million vehicles, Mumbai has high traffic congestion and thecampaign was aimed at sensitizing drivers who keep honking all the time even in the silence zones around hospitals, educational institutions and law courts.
"Between 10 am and 2 pm, 3,061 motorists were fined for not following the no-honking rules," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahaji Solunke told the IANS news agency.
He said that people were fined 100 rupees (2.5 dollars) and 500 rupees for excessive honking.
Sumaira Abdulali, head of a voluntary organization that was part of the "No Honking" initiative, said there were mixed reactions to the unique drive.
The campaign, first of its kind in India, was aimed at creating awareness about the social and health ill-effects of honking and noise pollution.
In high traffic areas of south Mumbai like Byculla and Victoria Terminus, there was hardly any difference and drivers continued to honk as usual," she said, as the campaign clocked half-day.
But in a few places like Bandra, where volunteers were active in creating awareness, the campaign was quite successful, Abdulali said.
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan had kicked off the campaign at Mehboob Studios on Saturday. The actor affixed on his car a white sticker that said "No Honking Today."
Mumbai Police and other agencies had distributed over 100,000 no-honking stickers in English, Hindi and Marathi to vehicles owners, including two-wheelers, cars, taxis and autos.
