Bokaro: The Bokaro administration has decided to intensify checks on drunk driving and make alcohol testing compulsory in all road accident investigations to curb the rising number of accidents.Dhanbad deputy commissioner Ajay Nath Jha on Friday said, “All police stations and traffic units have been instructed to verify whether drivers involved in accidents, victims or accused, were under the influence of alcohol or not. Breath analyser tests will be conducted for surviving drivers at accident spots. This step will help in checking road accidents.”Official data shows 292 accidents in 2024 with 217 deaths, 302 accidents in 2025 with 215 casualties, and 151 accidents this year so far, resulting in 101 deaths and 90 injuries. Many crashes involve suspected alcohol consumption, though not all are formally recorded as drunk driving cases.To strengthen enforcement, the number of breath analysers in the district has been increased from 20 to 26, distributed across 16 police stations and 10 traffic units. Six breath analysers have been distributed by ESL Steel Ltd to the traffic department this month.In the last 21 days, police caught 15 drivers operating under the influence of alcohol. Daily enforcement drives are being conducted between 6 pm and 9 pm, along with night checks.The crackdown comes against the backdrop of robust liquor sales in Bokaro. In the last financial year, the district generated around Rs 195.20 crore in excise revenue, with consumption estimated at nearly 7 lakh bulk litres of liquor and beer. Despite the demand, the district has only seven licensed bars, three in Bokaro township and the rest in Gomia, along with around 75 retail liquor outlets.Officials said the enforcement drive is necessary to curb fatalities, while legal experts cautioned about insurance implications in drunk driving cases, including claim rejection or reduced compensation.However, the strict measures also triggered mixed reactions, with some residents expressing concern over limited regulated spaces for consumption and rising enforcement pressure against roadside or unsafe drinking practices.“Bars in the city are very few and too expensive. Many cannot drink at home, and having a drink by the roadside or inside a parked car now invites trouble. Where are we supposed to go?” asked Anup Kumar, a resident.
The district generated around Rs 195.20 crore in excise revenue in the last financial year
Dhanbad deputy commissioner Ajay Nath Jha
Police use a breath analayser on a motorcyclist
