Helmetless riders at a petrol pump on J M Road on Thursday. (Source: Express photo by Manoj More) Helmetless riders at a petrol pump on J M Road on Thursday. (Source: Express photo by Manoj More)

CRACKING THE whip on those who do not obey the rule to wear helmets while riding two-wheelers, the Maharashtra government on Thursday announced that two-wheeler riders will not get petrol at pumps if the rider and pillion are found to be sans helmets.

The government’s decision has, however, not found any support from the Petrol Dealers’ Association, civic activists and even political parties.

State Transport Minister Diwakar Raote on Thursday told the state legislature that the government has taken the decision to ensure road safety and prevent increasing number of accidents. “If the two-wheeler riders approach petrol pumps without wearing helmets, they will not get fuel. The decision is important for safety of two-wheeler riders,” he said. Raote said the decision has been taken in view of the Supreme Court’s strict directives to implement the Motor Vehicle Act. “Last month, the Telangana government too had taken such a decision,” he added.

Read | ‘No Helmet No Fuel’ initiative from August 1 by Mumbai Traffic Police

Meanwhile, the managing committee of Poona Petrol Dealers Association has strongly opposed the move, stating that it would cause inconvenience to commuters and petroleum dealers to implement the norm .

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“Pune has the highest number of two-wheeler riders due to lack of good public transport facilities. It is not possible for handful of dealers to manage this huge number of two-wheelers,” said association spokesperson Ali Daruwalla.

“A few months back, there was a bid to make helmets compulsory in Pune. But due to huge opposition from citizens, it was withdrawn. It will be impossible for dealers to implement this law. If the government wants to implement this law, it should implement it on the public roads. People move on roads and come to petrol pumps to fill petrol once a week. The government should find better solutions to take care of public safety,” Daruwalla said.

“Today it is no helmet, no petrol. Tomorrow it can be no PUC, no licence or no petrol for drink and drive. This is all impractical,” the association said.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pravin Munde, “It will be a good initiative…will definitely help in enforcement of helmet compulsion for the safety of people.”

The Pune police, which is known for launching drives for compulsory use of helmets, have been under fire over increasing two-wheeler mishaps and deaths of riders and what activists describe as non-serious efforts in imposing the helmet norm. Every year, around 240 two-wheeler riders die on roads in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Most riders die of head injuries and are found riding without helmet. In the first four months of this year alone, as many as 68 two-wheeler riders had died and none of them were found wearing a helmet, police said. Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad collectively have over 20 lakh two-wheelers.

Civic activists have, however, criticised the move stating that instead of implementing the Motor Vehicles Act effectively, the state is bringing in new things. “The minister is referring to old Supreme Court orders in this connection. It is not a recent order. The state should first ensure that the MV Act is implemented effectively,” said activist Vijay Kumbhar.

NCP city chief Vandana Chavan, MP, too said it was an unreasonable move and her party will oppose it. “It is an absurd idea. Let them first implement the Act stringently rather than bring in something which is not in the law,” she said, adding, she was however in favour of compulsory use of helmets.

The Congress too opposed the move. Instead of drawing a common consensus, the state is going ahead unilaterally. It should first ensure proper implementation of the MV Act and then talk of new norms, said Opposition leader in Vidhan Sabha Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.

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