SILENCE PLEASE, NOW THAT REPORTERS ARE HERE

PLACE: Holy Family Junction, Chakala TIME: 2 pm Aflurry of activity erupted at Chakala soon after journos arrived around 1.00 pm. AGNI activists arrived and began slapping anti-honking stickers that read “Hornla sutti’’ and “Horn ko chhutti’’ on the rear of autorickshaws.

“Carowners will not allow us to do that. Rickshaw drivers do not object much and, in any case, few own the vehicles they drive,’’ AGNI’s Ashok Pai said. Most bewildered rickshaw drivers — unaware of the campaign — drove away without protest but a few like Vilas Ligade forbade activists from pasting stickers because they would be tough to remove.

“Only those who care for their vehicles know what it takes to keep it in shape,’’ Ligade said “But you must tell me why I should not blow the horn,’’ he said. Inspector Narayanrao Patil of the airport traffic division drove up in his car to oversee things. “The anti-honking campaign is timed to coincide with World Health Day so that people become aware that noise is injurious to health.

Many of the 100-odd people we fined were upset. They said they had only sounded the horn because the driver in front had made a mistake or because a pedestrian got in the way. They complained that we allowed the ‘actual offender’ to go. But we have a job to do and we will keep at it.’’ Activists turned to move away as the media wrapped up its reportage and prepared to leave. But Chakala petrol station attendants made them pick up the bits of adhesive paper left over from the stickers before they left.

FINE’S FAIR: The airport traffic division fined 100 drivers till 2 pm.

SOUND-BITES: The problem motorists like me face is that the dipper or flashlight is not easily seen during day and so the only way to demand right of way is by blowing the horn. This is a city in a hurry. Stephen Fernandes 22-YEAROLD LOGISTICS PROFESSIONAL

|| Put an end to 'mobocracy'   || Peace march held to protest attacks on N Indians   || This ‘mobocracy’ is quite enough  || Teen trio sweep in winds of change  || Activists want special cell to register threat complaints  || NGO men in row with Sainiks  || Cops and company walk the dock  || Court orders Sena-BJP to pay Rs 20 lakh each for bandh call  || Corporator is fooling people by taking credit  || Pothole hunt: Day 2, Dadar roads not okay  || People's Uprising  ||  CD Tells The Civic Tale In Wadala, Sion  ||  No Relief To The Needy, Others Benefit  ||  Experts Criticize Government, Rescue Forces; Praise Mumbai Police  ||  AGNI Speakers Seek Tax Sops For Flood-Hit  ||  AGNI, JAAG Join Hands For Flood Relief  ||  Shiv Sena Jumps Off The Bandh-Wagon  ||  Citizens, AGNI up in arms against BMC  ||  AGNI will move court to scuttle civic strike plan  ||  Write to set it Right  ||  Corporators to undergo AGNI-Pariksha  ||  The Road to nowhere  ||  Bandhs penalised  ||  AGNI presents Charter to Political Parties  ||  Chembur citizens come together to reduce dog-menace  ||  Citizens move marble  ||  Model School Bus Project  ||  Girgaum Chowpatty Project ||