Patna: Despite ban on hooters, dark films, modified silencers and pressure horns in cars and bikes, many youths could be seen violating the order openly in the state capital.
Such an incident came to light in the city on Sunday while the convoy of CM Nitish Kumar was passing through the Atal Path in the state capital, four SUVs with hooters installed on their vehicles and playing loud music, crossed on the other lane of the road at the same time. However, the vehicles were caught on J P Ganga Path by the traffic police but were released after realising a fine from them, police said on Monday.
The incident showed the daring act of youths.
The situation becomes worse during the night hours when several luxurious vehicles could be seen driving rashly with hooters and black films on Nehru Path (Bailey Road), Boring Road, and other posh localities of the state capital, said a resident living in Boring Road locality.
Traffic SP, Aprajit Lohan, said, “The four SUVs which were caught at Digha Golambar on J P Ganga Path were released after imposing a fine of Rs 34,000. The traffic police are keeping a tab on such rule-breakers through regular patrolling and the CCTV cameras of the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). Strict action is being taken against such persons who break the traffic rules.”
However, despite claims of the police, several temporary and permanent shops could be seen on Exhibition Road and Bhattacharya Road and other areas in the state capital selling banned accessories of four-wheelers and bikes. Some of the banned accessories that are banned for private vehicles include pressure horns, dark films, modified number plates and hooters.
Many people who purchase a new bike or car come to these roads to install accessories in their vehicles as they are available here at a very cheap rate as compared to the showrooms. These shops install films on the windshields of cars, pressure horns, hooters, modified silencers, additional LED lights, designer stickers and modified number plates.
People with old bikes and cars also visit these shops to modify their vehicles to give them a new, trendy and modern look. The state transport department had earlier announced to check such shops selling and installing these banned items, but they are openly sold. “In fact blaring horns, hooters, and number plates have become a status symbol,” said Ramesh Kripa of Gola Road.
The traffic SP assured to conduct a special drive against such shops that sell or install such banned items or accessories. “The bikes and car accessories shops are running their establishments with proper licences from the authorities concerned, but we will conduct a surprise inspection after seeking permission from the state transport department. Dial-112 and police patrolling teams are deployed 24x7 at various locations of the city to check those who break the traffic rules. We would also direct and deploy some traffic police personnel to check the vehicles moving with hooters and sirens during the night,” added Lohan.