Mumbai Traffic Police has intensified its crackdown on traffic violations, taking action against around 9,450 motorists in a single day, including 1,154 cases of wrong-side driving, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyanarayan Chaudhary told the Free Press Journal.
The latest enforcement drive comes as traffic authorities adopt a stricter approach towards dangerous driving, particularly wrong-side driving, which has emerged as a major road-safety concern across the city.
The Bhoiwada Traffic Division conducted a special enforcement operation in Parel following a tense situation reported in the area around midnight on Wednesday.
During the drive, police took action against 245 motorists for various traffic violations. The offences included riding without helmets, jumping traffic signals, carrying three people on a two-wheeler and using unclear or illegible number plates.
Mumbai Traffic Police has now stepped up enforcement across the city, with particular focus on violations that could put pedestrians and other motorists at risk.
Wrong-side driving has become one of the key targets of the Mumbai Traffic Police's enforcement campaign.
Between January and July 2026, police took action against 18,671 motorists for driving against the designated direction of traffic. Of these, 15,438 were two-wheeler riders, accounting for more than 83 per cent of all cases.
The figures show a significant increase compared with previous years. Mumbai recorded 11,761 wrong-side driving cases in 2025 and 12,814 cases in 2024.
Police officials said between 700 and 800 wrong-side driving violations are currently being detected and penalised across Mumbai each day.
The latest enforcement strategy marks a shift from treating wrong-side driving as a routine traffic offence punishable only through an e-challan.
During a 21-day special drive, Mumbai Traffic Police reportedly suspended 253 driving licences, registered 290 FIRs and seized vehicles in serious cases.
The enforcement operation covers all 41 traffic divisions in Mumbai. Special teams have been deployed from morning until late night at locations identified as high-risk areas. Police are using CCTV footage, e-challan systems and on-ground enforcement to identify offenders.
However, police have clarified that every wrong-side driving offence does not automatically result in an FIR. Criminal action depends on the circumstances and the level of danger created by the driver.
Where driving is considered rash or negligent and poses a serious threat to other road users, police can register a criminal case under applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other laws.
Section 281 of the BNS deals with rash or negligent driving on a public way that endangers human life or is likely to cause injury. The provision carries a punishment of up to six months in prison, a fine of up to Rs 1,000, or both.
In serious cases, motorists may also face vehicle seizure and driving licence suspension. The police have not specified a uniform suspension period for all cases, indicating that the duration can vary depending on the circumstances and action taken by the authorities.
The high number of two-wheeler cases is a major feature of Mumbai's traffic enforcement data.
Of the 18,671 motorists booked for wrong-side driving between January and July, 15,438 were riding motorcycles or scooters.
Traffic officials believe congestion and road layouts may encourage some riders to travel against traffic for short distances. Riders may attempt to avoid a long U-turn, bypass a signal or save time by entering the opposite carriageway.
However, police have warned that even a short wrong-side manoeuvre can create a serious collision risk, particularly on busy service roads and suburban stretches where vehicles travel at higher speeds.
A driver travelling in the correct direction may not expect a vehicle approaching from the opposite side, increasing the possibility of a sudden head-on crash.
The tougher enforcement campaign gained momentum following a serious wrong-side driving incident in Andheri on July 15, in which eight-year-old Reva Pawar was critically injured.
Following the incident, Mumbai Traffic Police announced a more stringent, zero-tolerance approach towards dangerous wrong-side driving.
Police are now focusing on identified hotspots across the city and combining technology-based monitoring with physical enforcement.
The latest crackdown means motorists cannot assume that a wrong-side driving offence will simply result in a challan.
Authorities are assessing factors such as speed, traffic conditions, road layout, the level of danger created and whether the driving amounted to rash or negligent behaviour.
The enforcement data also highlights the particular risk faced by two-wheeler riders. With more than four out of every five wrong-side driving cases involving bikes or scooters, riders are likely to remain a key focus of the traffic police campaign.
For motorists in Mumbai, the message is clear: saving a few minutes by driving against traffic could result in much more serious consequences than a traffic fine, including licence suspension, vehicle seizure or criminal proceedings in severe cases.
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