There are now 88 policemen in a new unit: the transport police. They will have to make sure drivers abide by road regulations. The cabinet backed the decision to make sentences against drunk drivers - that cause deadly accidents - more severe.

The transport police unit was launched on Friday at Line Barracks. During the ceremony, the deputy Prime minister and minister of Public Utilities and Transport, Rashid Beebeejaun, made it clear that someone who tests positive in a breath-test will see their driving licence immediately withdrawn until they appear in court for a ruling.

But this is not the only sector where road regulations will be more severe and the new unit will not just deal with such drivers. On the 1st June, the new version of the Road Traffic Act will be promulgated to sanction illegal operators, who will be fined Rs 10,000.

The transport police will also be on the look-out for attacks in public transport, pickpockets at bus stations and will also control free transport for students, who are said to take advantage of the system to play truant. With such a unit, the commissioner wants to send a strong signal to all those who would be tempted to break the law or start “undesirable activities”.