Puja traffic violation prosecutions plunge to 4,146 from 12,393 last year

Traffic violation prosecutions across Calcutta fell significantly this Durga Puja compared to last year, with the number of cases dropping from 12,393 in 2025 to 4,146 in 2026.

Last year, more than 12,000 traffic violations were prosecuted during the seven days from Chaturthi to Dashami.

This year, the corresponding seven-day period, from Panchami to Dashami, including both Saptami days, recorded just over 4,000 cases, roughly a third of last year’s figure, said officers of Kolkata Police.

The sharpest fall was recorded in two-wheeler-related violations, particularly riding without a helmet. Helmet-related prosecutions dropped from 5,512 last year to 1,065 this year, a decline of more than 80%. Prosecutions for rash driving also declined, from 941 in 2025 to 699 this year, while cases of drink driving fell from 818 to 652.

Police officers attributed the decline to increased vigilance and enforcement measures during the festive season. However, some said the drop could be due to better compliance among motorists or a reduction in the intensity of vigil.

Some police officers pointed to a shortage of personnel as a possible factor, arguing that the force did not have adequate manpower to monitor traffic violations across the city during one of its busiest periods.

The demands of crowd management, pandal-hopping and traffic regulation during the festival put considerable pressure on the available force.

Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari recently highlighted the state’s low police strength, citing a figure of around 105 police personnel for every one lakh people.

“While increased surveillance may have deterred some motorists from violating traffic rules, the substantial fall in prosecutions alone cannot establish whether compliance improved or enforcement weakened,” an officer said.