Mumbai traffic police penalise 25,530 for wrong-side driving in eight months

Mumbai Traffic Police said they penalised 25,530 motorists for wrong-side driving and one-way violations in the first eight months of 2026, compared with 11,762 cases during all of 2025.

The enforcement drive covers all 41 traffic divisions, police said. Officers have registered FIRs against 290 people, suspended 253 driving licences and seized vehicles in serious cases. Special teams are deployed from morning until late night at locations identified by police as high-risk.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyanarayan Chowdhary said police intensified action after patrolling and nakabandis found wrong-side driving was contributing to congestion and crashes. Police said some motorists drive on the wrong side to avoid signals, long U-turns and traffic queues, creating a risk of head-on collisions.

Police identified Sahar, Mulund, Mahim Dargah Road, Malad and Mahakali Caves among areas where the practice is common. Residents have sought clearer one-way signs and reviews of road layouts, particularly where new infrastructure projects have changed traffic movement.

In Colaba, surgeon Dr Nitin Salian said the problem resumed after a constable posted near Pushpa Bhavan for a day left the area. He said his complaint led police to book a driver after an alleged wrong-side-driving incident on May 31.