Bhubaneswar: Following public resentment over the newly-implemented MV Act, the approach of Twin City Commissionerate Police towards the traffic rule violators has evidently become softer.

Couple of days after launching of awareness drive in capital city Bhubaneswar, the same was started in millennium city Cuttack today. This apart, free helmets were provided to offenders at Kalpana Square here.

Sagarika Nath, Traffic DCP, and some celebrities were seen giving flowers, chocolates and leaflets to traffic rule-abiding commuters at Madhupatna Chhak in Cuttack as a part of the sensitization drive. Similarly, helmets were given to violators free of cost at Kalpana Chhak here.

"We are conducting awareness drives at important junctions in the cities in the initial phase. Later, it will be expanded to other areas. The MV Act is not a revenue generating exercise. Awareness and safety of public are our aim," Nath said.

"As directed by the Commissioner of Police, we are prioritising only five aspects during checking. Drunken driving, usage of mobile phones during driving, driving on wrong side of road, triple riding and non-usage of helmets & seat belts are in our focus," the police official said.

"We are urging people to wear helmets while driving two-wheelers. With issuance of challan, we are also providing them helmet free of cost," she added.