Reflectors: Amid short supply, cycle industry fears cost hike

LUDHIANA: In another jolt for the bicycle industry, there is an apparent shortage of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-approved reflectors, which the businessmen are required to get installed under the new reflector law.
The businessmen, who are already jittery over the approaching deadline for implementation of the law, said the current production capacity of the reflectors here is 20,000-25,000 per day whereas a total of about 40,000 reflectors are required by the industry.
United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers’ Association former president Inderjit Singh Navyug said, “As per the new law, the reflectors which were earlier either being manufactured in Ludhiana or imported from abroad are no longer acceptable.”
“Currently, few units are manufacturing the approved reflectors as they require special machines, which are very costly. As of now, the estimated production is 20,000 to 25,000 (approximately 2,000 sets) while the actual requirement is 40,000 (3,300 sets),” he added.
The businessmen are apprehensive that the short supply and high demand will lead to a hike in the price.
Bicycle and parts manufacturer Kulpreet Malhotra said, “If the supply remains the same, there could be an increase in the rates. Already with the BIS-approved reflectors being made mandatory, our costs of production have increased as the normal reflector set costs only Rs 10 to 12 whereas the new one costs Rs 40 to 50.”
Meanwhile, industrialists want the central government to take note of the situation and help regulate the supply.
Bicycle parts manufacturer Avtar Singh Bhogal said, “The departments concerned have failed to take into account the ground realities. The government should provide subsidy to the new and the existing units, desirous of making these reflectors, to set up the machines.”