At Pune signal: Erring drivers get roses!

If you break traffic rules and are caught, the way out is paying a fine, or may be a small bribe.

But this Gandhi Jayanti, the errant drivers at Shanipar Chowk in Pune were in for a surprise when they received roses instead of `challans' (fine receipts) in keeping with 'Gandhigiri', popularised by the recent Sanjay Dutt-starrer Lage Raho Munnabhai. Gandhigiri is a new club founded by former Union minister Mohan Dharia and former Pune Mayors Shantilal Suratwala and Ankush Kakde, alongwith others.

On Gandhi Jayanti, which coincided with Dussehra, over a hundred vounteers -- including many school children -- stood guard at the signal at busy Shanipar Chowk.

Since the traffic constables were not in sight, many vehicle drivers, including that of Pune Municipal Transport buses, ignored red signals and zebra crossings, but were promptly stopped by volunteers of the Gandhigiri club.

Flashing smiles, they presented the offenders with roses and certificates, which read: "You are being honoured for violating traffic rules. But here onwards, please obey traffic rules". When they ran out of roses, marigold flowers -- used in abundance on Dussehra -- were presented, prompting the errant drivers to apologise.