Mumbai witnessed a significant decline in incidents of drunk driving during the New Year's Eve celebrations on Wednesday night, marking a positive shift in road safety compliance. The city recorded 211 such cases, a sharp 37% decrease compared to the 333 cases registered on December 31, 2024.
MMR-Wide Decline in Offences
The trend of reduced drunk driving was not confined to Mumbai city limits. The broader Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) also reported lower numbers. Thane recorded 274 cases, while Navi Mumbai registered 250 cases on the night of December 31, 2025. Police authorities noted that both Mumbai and Thane had fewer cases this year compared to the figures from the same night in 2024 and 2023.
Anil Kumbhare, the joint commissioner of police (traffic) for Mumbai, attributed this decline to sustained enforcement. "Consistent crackdowns on drunk driving throughout the year and registration of FIRs on offenders since April 2025 has resulted in the decrease," he stated. The policy of filing First Information Reports (FIRs) means offenders must undergo a medical examination at a hospital and face a court trial, a process that can also affect their employment prospects.
Multi-Pronged Enforcement Drive
Beyond targeting drunk drivers, the traffic police were active on other fronts. In Mumbai alone, over 13,500 challans were issued for various violations, accumulating fines worth approximately Rs 1.3 crore. These violations included speeding, not wearing helmets or seat belts, driving in the wrong direction, jumping signals, and using phones while driving.
In Thane, enforcement took a unique turn as police booked 12 co-passengers for abetment after they were found accompanying inebriated drivers. Under the directives of Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre, the Thane traffic department deployed 739 personnel and established 54 checkpoints across the region. Kalyan reported the highest number of cases within this commissionerate.
Awareness and Action Across the Region
Navi Mumbai police adopted an innovative approach by using mascots to educate motorists about the dangers of mixing alcohol and driving. Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe detailed that around 2,500 police personnel were deployed for checks along key routes like the Sion-Panvel highway and Thane-Belapur road from 8 pm to 6 am. Among the 16 traffic units in Navi Mumbai, Turbhe and Panvel city each recorded the highest count of 26 drunk driving cases.
The crackdown extended beyond traffic violations. In both Kalyan and Navi Mumbai, police took action against the illegal sale and consumption of alcohol, reckless use of flammable substances, drug consumption, and obstruction of public streets. Kalyan police also penalized 45 motorists for riding triple-seat and overspeeding.
The coordinated efforts across the MMR, combining strict legal action, widespread personnel deployment, and public awareness campaigns, contributed to a safer start to the new year on the region's roads.
